Mother's Love

by Novasongs

Summary:

Your new life as a Dimitrescu begins

Chapter 1

Your lungs burned with the exertion of running for your life. Your panicked gasps for air weren't the only thing you could hear. You could hear her. Her giggling and cackling right behind you. You could hear flies swarming and you felt them nipping at your heels.  

   

“What's the matter? Don’t you want to play with me?” Lady Daniela Dimitrescu’s voice sang out. Her manic laughter filled your veins with pure dread. “There's nowhere to run off to! Nowhere to hide, little mouse!” She cackled again.  

   

You kept running as fast as you could. The burning of your lungs and the pain in your legs did nothing to slow you down. You turned down another hallway, almost hitting the wall as you fled down it. The maid who was cleaning the vases startled at your sudden appearance. You saw her eyes widen in fright as she noticed Daniela hot on your trail. She gasped as you sped past her, then screamed as the red headed daughter careened right into her. You didn’t look back as you could hear the screams as Daniela Dimitrescu tore into the maid, laughing maniacally as she ripped her limb from limb. She had forgotten all about you, it seemed.  

   

You knew you shouldn’t have stuck your nose where it did not belong. You went and snooped through the hidden passageways, and found out more then you ever wanted to: how the Matriarch of Castle Dimitrescu made her infamous wine. You knew that whoever was sent down to the basement never made it back alive, but you had no idea that they were used for that. Slaughtered and drained of blood and stuffed into barrels. If only Lady Daniela didn’t find you down there. You barely made it out of the basement without suffering a sickle to the face.  

   

If you could somehow get outside, perhaps you could climb the iron gate and escape into the forest. Maybe you could even make it into the village and get help for everyone else trapped inside the castle. The diary you found mentioned that the Dimitrescu daughters were intolerant to the cold. If you could make it outside, you would be safe from them.  

   

You reached the foyer and practically flung yourself down the grand stairway, nearly tripping as you went. You could see the large ornate doors that blocked your path to the outside world.  

   

Twenty feet from the doors.  

   

Ten feet  

   

You let out a sob as you closed in, just mere inches from the handles. You just had to reach them, and you would be free. You didn’t care about anything else.  

   

Just as your hand was about to touch the handle, the door slammed open. You let out a startled yelp of shock as you took a few steps back, barely missed being clipped, in disbelief at what was unfolding in front of your very eyes.  

   

Lady Dimitrescu stepped through the doorway. Blocking your escape. Blocking the way to freedom. Her monstrous form cast a shadow over your tiny frame. She was larger than life itself in that very moment. Her inhumane golden gaze swept over you with an air of superiority that was wholly deserved. You felt as if you were a mere ant standing next to a dragon. She adjusted her large brimmed hat as her red painted lips turned up into a smile that made you quake in fear.  

   

“My, my. What do we have here?” Her voice was as cruel and musical as it always was. “Don’t tell me you thought your little escape attempt would actually work, now did you?” She chuckled, the sound reverberating deep in her chest.  

   

You couldn’t help but take another step back, but you didn’t get far. Her hand stuck out, faster than what you could comprehend, and wrapped itself around your throat. She lifted you up as if you barely weighed more than a kitten. You choked and sputtered, grasping her wrist in your own hands, trying to elevate the pressure she had on your neck. Tears were flowing freely now. You were so close, only to fail at the very end. You would die here at her hands. You couldn’t help but think on how unfair it was that you made it this far.  

   

The Lady hummed as she turned your body this way and that, not at all concerned that your air was being slowly cut off. She looked closely at your face. Golden eyes met blue, apparently searching for something in them. She must have found whatever she was looking for because she smiled even wider and then nodded.  

   

“Yes. I think you will do nicely." She hummed. She didn’t comment further as her grip tightened. Not hard enough to snap your neck like you knew she so easily could, but enough to slowly choke the life out of you.  

   

Darkness had begun to seep into the edges of your vision. Little black spots danced across your eyes but still you could see the gold gleam of Lady Dimitrescu’s gaze as you started to pass out. The sounds of your choking were starting to fade from your ears, but you could still hear her chuckling as she watched you fade out from existence. You couldn’t breathe. Your lungs had no more air in them. It was over. Your last thought before you faded completely was that at least this was a better death than what was in store in the girls in the basement.  

   

You always assumed that death was nothing but darkness and silence. A forever sleep. While your death was indeed dark, it wasn’t as silent as you expected. It started off slowly at first, but you could always tell that something was there. Speaking to you. You could never make out the words, but something was speaking to you. You weren't sure why, but it brought you little comfort in your darkness.  

   

Over time, the words became louder and clearer. You still couldn’t understand, but they were soothing. It comforted you in your loneliness. The something would speak to you a lot. Or it a someone? Whoever or whatever it was, it spoke to you in a manner you felt yourself craving. It always was so soft and beautiful, and left you wanting more. It eased the pain of your passing and your grief over how pitiful and lonely your life was when you were alive. You felt sadness when the voice went away; the relief when it came back was impalpable. You couldn't get enough of it.  

   

It felt like months later when you began losing the memories that you had. It became harder and harder to remember who you used to be. You could hardly recall your childhood. Flashes here and there. Working in the bitter cold till your fingers were numb. Trying so hard to be worthy of someone else, and the shame for failing them. Resentment of being compared to another’s achievements and disappointment for not being able to match them. Trying to sleep on an empty stomach and the pain keeping you up all night long. Even the memory of your death was difficult to recall. You knew it was terrible and frightening, and that you failed at accomplishing something. Were you being chased before your death? You recalled your lungs were struggling to get enough air in. It had hurt. Gods… it was so hard to think.  

   

It felt like years until words were comprehensible. You could have cried with joy if you still had the ability to when the soothing voice came back, told you that you were doing fine and progressing nicely and that they couldn't wait to meet you. That they couldn't wait for you to wake up and join them. You weren't sure what they meant by that, but you were happy. So happy that someone who brought you joy in your little darkness wanted to meet you. You weren't sure how you would wake up, you were dead after all, but you so very much wanted to join them. You wanted to please them.  

   

“Your sisters and I are so excited to finally meet you. It has been so long since we had a little one running around the hallways.” The voice sounded beautiful and feminine. Deep, but lilting. You were absolutely enthralled.  

   

“Bela is your eldest sister. She is looking forward to teaching you the process of wine making. She is especially excited to show you our vineyard and how we tend the grapes that grow on them.” The voice chuckled lightly, full of pride. You found yourself wanting to meet Bela almost as much as the one who spoke to you.  

   

“Cassandra is excited to show you her tool shed. She is an exceptionally talented weapon-smith, you see. She wants to show you all her wonderful creations. She even has a gift in store for you, I believe.” The voice laughed again. “I would not be surprised if she even taught you how to fight. She so does enjoy fighting. Cassandra is your second eldest sister, you know.” The way she praised Cassandra, and her work, made you wish you could wake up from the dead now. You wanted to meet her too.  

   

“And I'm sure Daniela would want to show you the library. She spends so much time in there. It makes my heart glad to see her sitting next the fire reading. She has mentioned that she would love to sit and read with you. And I believe that the prospect of finally being a big sister, to have someone look up to her, has made her the most excited out of all of us.” Her wonderful, lilting voice was so full of fondness. “It has been her that has been mostly feeding your insects and keeping them strong and healthy. She has been so attentive to your needs.” The absolute pure love that poured out of this mother for her daughters made your heart ache to be a part of that.  

   

You couldn’t remember if you were loved before your death. You didn’t think you were, nothing to this level of magnitude anyway. Why did you have to die before finding love like this? It felt so unfair. You wanted to join this family, feel the love for yourself, and love them in return, but how could you? You died, but this soothing voice sounded so sure that you would wake up. You didn’t want to disappoint her.  

   

“Oh! Your insects are becoming more active!” The woman's voice sang out. “I wonder if you can hear me now. Cassandra’s insects got more active near the end when I spoke to her when she too was turning. Yes, my dear, we are all looking forward to seeing you. Both your sisters and I. I have not introduced myself to you yet, have I? I'm your mother, my little Eliza. I am your mother, and you are my daughter. And I cannot wait to see who you will become.”  

   

It felt like eons had passed when your eyes opened for the first time. You blinked in confusion as you slowly sat up. Weren't you dead? How was waking up possible? Did the woman... Mother? Somehow bring you back to life? You blinked a few times more, your surroundings coming into focus.  

   

You were in a large, soft bed in a very big room. A roaring fire made the space comfortably warm. There was a huge bookshelf that expanded from floor to ceiling filled to the brim with books of all kinds. A large chair and a small couch sat near the fireplace. It looked like a lovely spot to sit and read. The walls were a beautiful dark blue with golden floral swirls intermixed with crests of flowers and swords. The other side of the fireplace led to a doorway that looked like it held a bathroom.  

   

Your musings were interrupted when you felt a sharp pain in your stomach. You wondered how long it had been since you last had anything to eat. Was it years? You felt starving. Your hunger for food drove you to leave the bed and go outside of the room that you woke up in. You needed to find something to fill the void in your stomach.  

   

The hallway that you entered was empty. You had no idea where you were or where to go, but the hunger you felt pushed you forward. You had a craving for something warm and delicious and fresh. You had no idea what it was, but you were sure that once you find what you were looking for, you would know.  

   

You wandered the halls looking for anything or anyone at all, but this place was so large. More than once did you run into a dead end. With the pain in your belly rapidly getting stronger, you felt your mood shift from curiosity, to irritation, to anger. You were hungry . You could hear a slight buzzing and clicking the more irritated and angrier you grew. You had no idea where it was coming from, but it seemed to be in cadence with your anger.  

   

The longer you travelled, looking for whatever it was, the anger seemed to grow. You could hear a consistent clicking and it irritated you further. You felt a snarl forming on your lips, and the low growl from your throat would have shocked you if you weren't so angry.  

   

You rounded another corner and came face to face with a woman. You both froze in place. A maid. Your mind supplied the word from a long-distance memory that you no longer could, or no longer cared to remember. You could hear her heart rate pick up. You could smell the scent of her blood pumping through her veins. It smelled like perfume and spices to your senses. You found yourself inhaling deeper. You liked the scent. It smelled wonderful.  

   

The maid didn’t say anything, too frozen in place with mounting fear. You could see the whites of her eyes as she watched you in horror. She hardly blinked as she watched you with dull brown eyes. Still neither of you moved, stuck in place. She must have been extremely uncomfortable in your presence because she cleared her throat a few times before finally speaking.  

   

“Y-you must be Lady Eliza. We were told that you would be joining us soon. If you would f-follow me I'll show you where your mother is waiting for….” She broke off as you tilted your head at the word mother, but you still didn’t say a word. Too entranced with how her throat bobbed as she swallowed. The delicious scent was strongest there. You couldn’t help the flare of your nostrils as you continued to inhale. You wanted to taste it. The clicking noise that you heard was back. You must have been too distracted with the maid to hear it before, but it was back, and louder than ever before.  

   

The maid must have realized something was wrong. She gulped again as she took a step back.  

   

You didn’t like that. You felt your lips curl in a silent snarl and took a step forward, following the maid step by step.  

   

The maid, sensing that she was indeed in danger, turned on her heel and ran. She ran away from you. How could she! Didn’t she know how hungry you were? A vicious snarl tore through your lips, and you gave chase.  

   

The buzzing and clicking and snarling should have alarmed you, but you didn’t care. The bitch was running away from you, leaving you in hunger and in pain. She would pay for leaving you like this when she could make it better.  

   

She was screaming in terror as she fled down the hallways, with you right on her heels. You would not let her get away.  

   

She didn’t make it far when you tackled her from behind, her screams turned to shrieks as you brought her down to the ground. The force of the impact didn’t faze you one bit, but it momentarily dazed her as she struck her head on the hard floor. You wasted no time as you flipped her over on her back, holding her down by her neck. She was smaller than you. You vaguely remember not being as big as you were now, but that didn’t matter in the moment. What mattered was that her blood was pumping wildly, her fear wafting in the air.  

   

Your teeth gnashed in anticipation. She tried to hit you, tried with all her strength to push you off, but you were far stronger. You caught one of her flailing hands in one of yours, and tore it clean off. You were momentarily surprised with how easily the appendage came off. Her shrieks drowned out the sound of the clicking as she wept. Holding her bleeding stump of an arm, she screamed and cried for help. You hated that sound. She needed to be quiet. The moment your hand released her throat, your mouth descended on it, gripping her jugular with your teeth. You felt blood pouring into your mouth, and you moaned at the taste. Clamping tighter with your teeth, you pulled, tearing her throat as you yanked your head back.  

   

The taste of her flesh was divine . It was exactly what you were craving. Her gurgles were music to your ears as you chewed her flesh. At least she wasn’t screaming anymore. You swallowed your mouthful and couldn’t help the moan that left your lips again.  

   

You began feeding from your prey in earnest. Tearing chunks of meat and sinew from the body. You couldn’t sate your hunger fast enough. You were covered in blood and gore, but it did nothing to slow or stop you as you continued to feed. You vaguely heard someone gasping from far away, but you didn’t care enough to look, too preoccupied with your meal.  

   

You were just starting on the arm you tore off when you heard laughter. With a snarl you turned to face whoever was disturbing your meal and saw a few feet away was a woman in a black dress. She had dark brown hair and dried blood covering her face. You couldn't help the hiss that tore through your throat as you moved slightly to block her view of your prey.  

   

She laughed again and took a step forward, her golden eyes watching you with glee. You hissed again as you stood up, nearly tripping over the body, ready to defend your catch from this unwelcome intruder, your teeth bared in a clear threat. The angry cadence of clicking and buzzing was back in abundance. The other woman giggled but held up her hands, taking a small step back.  

   

“Little sister, I would never steal from you. You're finally awake!” She laughed, her eyes still glowing in delight, despite your hostile greeting. “We have been waiting for so long!”  

   

You felt your eyes narrow. You heard that word before. Sister. Your snarl lessened but your face still scrunched up in anger. You observed her carefully, making sure that she was, indeed, not a threat to you or your food. She made no more moves toward you, keeping her hands up in the air to show that they were empty.  

   

“Who are you?” You asked sharply. Your voice came out surprisingly clear and soft, despite the evident anger dripping from your words. “You won't take this from me.” You warned her, indicating your prey. You didn’t want to share, not when you still felt so hungry. She only laughed her sweet laugh.  

   

“I'm your older sister, Cassandra. I know you must be famished since you just woke up. We have been waiting for you for so long!” She repeated.  

   

“It has only been a week, Cassandra.” A new voice from behind you made you whip around with another hiss. Another woman, this time with blonde hair stood further back. Her hands rested calmly at her sides. She had a kind smile on her face, even despite your distrusting demeanor. You felt yourself falter at that. Hadn't it been years?  

   

A shriek of happiness made you turn around again as this time, a woman with red hair forming out of a swarm of flies, arms open and coming right for you. “You’re finally awake!”  

   

You let out a vicious snarl again as you lunged at her, feeling threatened. Your bodies would have met but Cassandra pulled back the red head in time. You stopped short, right over your food, like how a wolf guards its own prey. There were too many of them. You knew you couldn’t fight them all.  

   

“Don't overwhelm her, Daniela! She doesn't know who we are!” The blonde scolded, looking just short of angry. The red head, Daniela, pouted. Her lips puffed out like a child.  

   

“But she is finally here, Bela! Aren't you excited to see her too?”  

   

“Of course I am! But can't you see how defensive she is? She just woke up!” The blonde nearly growled. “We don’t want to stress her out any more then we already have.” She said with an authoritative tone.  

   

When the three started bickering among each other, you reached down and grabbed your prey and dragged it to the wall, a better position to defend yourself and your food from any attack. All three glanced at you, and Daniela looked sheepish.  

   

“I'm sorry, Eliza. I didn’t mean to upset you. I've just wanted to meet you for so, so long! We all have!”  

   

The answering growl in your throat died down when you heard clicking of heels. All three girls perked up and smiled widely. You couldn't help but tense up. You had no idea who or what was coming for you now. You just wanted to eat. The harsh snarl plastered on your face died when you heard it. When you heard her.  

   

“ My darlings, be calm.” The soothing voice. It was back. The voice that made your death bearable. Made you happy whenever you heard it.  

   

The voice was real?  

   

She was real?  

   

She stepped through the same doorway you came through when you discovered the maid. She was beautiful and larger than life itself. You felt your body slacken with shock and awe. Unable to understand that this was real. She was real. She wasn't a figment of your lonely imagination. Her painted red lips curled up in a soft smile, her golden eyes glowing in radiance. She didn’t seem at all disturbed by you being covered in blood. She looked at you with pure love. You couldn't help the tear that escaped.  

   

“My dear Eliza. I'm so glad you're awake.” You never moved when she crossed the great distance to you with only a few strides. Too star struck to move or even hiss at her. She did not hesitate to reach a soft, warm hand and cup your cheek, her thumb wiping the tear away that you didn’t know had escape. She knelt to get a better look at you. “You're as beautiful and fierce as I knew you would be. As beautiful and fierce as a true Dimitrescu,” she said lovingly. She looked at you, you with adoration. You couldn’t help yourself. You flung yourself into her embrace. She didn’t seem to care that you were getting blood all over her dress.  

   

“Y-you're real? You're really here?” You couldn’t help but blubber out how you thought she was simply a figment of your imagination. She hushed you, holding you tightly.  

   

“Of course I'm real. And so are your sisters.” Her voiced was, as always, soothing. “We will always be here for you. We are your family.”  

   

-Several weeks later-  

   

Lady Alcina Dimitrescu let out a sigh as she set the phone down. While she was always glad to speak with Mother Miranda, she was looking forward to retiring for the evening and spending time with her children. After all, her youngest was reborn only a few weeks ago and still required much of her attention.  

   

She smiled softly at the memory of finding you in the hallway. Covered in blood and gore and glaring at your older sisters in defiance. You were strong and magnificent in that moment. Not like how you used to be. Quiet and weak and full of fear. Meek as a door mouse. Never able to look at the ladies of the castle directly. Now you were full of life and joy. Laughing and playing and learning from your elder sisters.  

   

Alcina stood from her chair and grabbed her wine glass and set out to find her daughters. The maids made sure to keep out of her way, eyes downcast. She could smell their fear and hear their hearts race. Alcina didn’t spare them a glance as she glided past. Instead, she let her mind wander on the events that transpired since your awakening.  

   

She remembered the time where she observed Bela trying to teach you how to master swarming. How your eyebrows furrowed as you concentrated on your eldest sister's every word. How Bela comforted you each time you failed to properly swarm. You still hadn't mastered the skill yet, but you were improving with each day.  

   

The time when you came rushing excitedly into her room, brandishing the new sickle that Cassandra gifted you. How you marvelled at the curve of the blade and how pretty it looked. You couldn't wait for Cassandra to teach you how to use it.  

   

The time when Daniela showed you the library and how you looked at all the books with awe. The two of you spent hours in there, reading all kinds of different books. How you developed a taste for fiction and horror. Alcina promised to get you more books from the Duke when he next visited the castle.  

   

Alcina looked back at her own interactions with you. How on the second night after your rebirth, she was woken up by you climbing into her bed, shivering with fear from a nightmare. A nightmare of choking and gasping for breath. How the world around you turned dark. You tried not to disturb her and curl up at the foot of her bed but as soon as you laid down, Alcina was wrapping her large arms around you and tucked you into the sheets right beside her. She held you in her arms and whispered soothing words and stroked your hair till your shivering subsided and the warmth of your mother lulled you to sleep. Alcina woke up that morning with your face pressed into the crook of her neck, still deeply asleep. You have had a few more nightmares since then, but they were becoming more manageable.  

   

She remembered feeling exasperated when teaching you table manners. That using your hands was unladylike and would not be tolerated. You were a Dimitrescu after all, so you were expected to act like one. That included the use of a fork.  

   

The time when she and Bela were in deep discussions about the harvest, when suddenly a maid came bursting through a doorway, screaming and bloody and eyes full of terror. She didn’t even seem to notice the matriarch and her heir as she streaked down the halls. A moment later you, Cassandra and Daniela appeared, chasing down your prey. All of you laughing and giggling as you hunted the maid down. The chase must have triggered Bela’s predatory instincts as she quickly followed suit, joining in with the game. Alcina chuckled when she noticed that her older children opted to run with you, and not burst into their swarms. It wasn't long until she heard the screeching of pain that echoed in the hallways, followed by four sets of laughter. Alcina let a smile grace her lips. Dinner that night was delicious.  

   

The Lady's musings were interrupted by soft voices up ahead. Alcina rounded a corner and stopped in her tracks. Up ahead was the maid who was assigned to refresh all the flowers in the castle and make sure that their vases were clean and polished. The maid had a soft but nervous smile as she spoke to none other than Eliza.  

   

The youngest of the Dimitrescu’s had a smile of her own. Confident and proud, but it held no malice. You were speaking quietly to the maid. About what, Alcina couldn’t hear. She frowned. What were you doing?  

Alcina watched as her youngest said something, and the maid giggled. Your laugh soon joined hers. What you did next shocked the matriarch. You plucked a fresh flower from the vase and deftly snapped the thorns off, then gently placed it in the maid's hair. The little maid's blush could be seen brightly from where Alcina stood.  

   

Alcina didn’t know where the rise of jealousy bubbled up from. She had no reason to be jealous. You were hers. All of you were hers. Bela, her responsible and level-headed heir. Cassandra, her fiery warrior and protector of the family. Daniela, her joyful, carefree dancer. And little Eliza, who she was only beginning to see the playful and curious side of you. You were still just discovering who you were.  

   

Alcina stamped down on her jealousy. She had no need or reason to feel such pitiful emotions. You were all hers. No mere maid could change that. With that, she turned and left. Retiring to her personal rooms; she knew that her children would find her later. She would later send Cassandra to question that tiny scrap of a human, and remind her of her place within these stone walls.  

   

Before your awakening, Alcina gathered all the house staff together in the foyer. She warned them all that they were forbidden to tell you about your past as a maid and as a villager. She didn’t want her youngest to be confused and uncertain in her place, the way Bela had been when she discovered who she was early on. It took Bela a long time to feel secure in her own place in the hierarchy of House Dimitrescu.  

   

Alcina threatened pain of death to any who broke their silence. After, to prove her point, she took one of the maids who was known to gossip and spread rumours and sliced out her tongue. Her screams and gargling as her older daughters took her to the basement was unearthly. Music to the Matriarch's ear. The rest of the staff understood completely. She had made her point.  

   

It didn’t even take an hour for her daughters to find her. Alcina was reclined in her chaise lounge and reading by the fire, make-up washed and dressed in her nightgown. She could hear her children's footsteps moments before they appeared.  

   

A smile graced her lips as Cassandra came in first, followed by Bela. Daniela and Eliza came in together, both grinning ear to ear.  

   

“You did so good! That was such a good move with the rose!” Daniela praised. “Very smooth, baby sis!”  

   

You giggled when Cassandra snorted, and Bela rolled her eyes. Daniela stuck her tongue out at them.  

   

“She has better things to do then to learn how to flirt with the maids” Cassandra complained as she leaned on Alcina’s bed frame. “She would rather want to learn how to use her sickle from me.”  

   

“She should be learning how the wine business is handled.” Bela said as she sat down next to her mother, a frown on her lips. “She has to learn the ropes eventually.”  

   

You had breezed to the back of the chaise lounge and draped yourself over it, purring in pleasure as your mother reached over a large hand and stroked your cheek. You nuzzled into it before looking at your sisters with a toothy grin.  

   

“I can learn them all. I want to learn from all of you. How to flirt, how to use weapons and how the wine is made. I can do it all.” You said eagerly, wanting to please your big sisters.  

   

“Is that what you were doing, darling? Learning from Daniela?” Alcina asked, still stroking your face lovingly. Her smile widened when you nodded eagerly.  

   

“Yes! Dani says that I need to practice how to flirt like in the books, so that I can break hearts with ease.” Both you and Daniela descended into giggles when Cassandra scoffed loudly as she fell back onto Alcina’s bed and tossed an arm over her eyes.  

   

“Why break hearts figuratively when you can break them literally.” She sighed.  

   

Before Daniela could respond, Alcina interrupted them. “Let’s settle down now, darlings. I would like to enjoy a peaceful night with you all.”  

   

There were quiet conversations then, asking of how each of their days went and what things they did. Soon the family descended into comfortable silence.  

   

Bela was looking through her notes for tomorrow’s work, flipping through pages quietly. Daniela settled herself on the floor, back propped up on the chaise lounge while reading a new book she was excited about. Cassandra hadn’t moved from her spot on the bed, arm still thrown over her eyes. Her youngest was still draped over the back of the chaise lounge, watching the firelight that blazed in the fireplace. Alcina noticed how your eyes drooped as you rested your head over crossed arms. Alcina nodded to herself as she went back to her book.  

   

It must have been half an hour when Alcina looked up from her book. The room was quiet except for a few pops from the fireplace. Bela was asleep, papers laying on her lap, her head propped up by a hand. Daniela dozed with her head leaning on Bela's knee, her book closed and resting on the floor. A quick glance told her that you were asleep, head buried in your arms. She wondered how you were still draped over the lounge. She knew Cassandra was asleep by her deep, even breaths, her arm still covering her eyes.  

   

The matriarch closed her own book and stood up. Her bulk was surprisingly agile, never disrupting her sleeping children. She settled Cassandra on the far side of her bed first, who never made a noise as she was moved. She turned and grabbed her youngest. You groaned in your sleep and shifted slightly in her arms. You settled down once she laid you down next to Cassandra. Next was Daniela, whom she carefully picked up off the floor. Daniela threw an arm over you as soon as she was in the soft sheets. Alcina moved Bela's notes to the side table and held her heir in her arms securely as she went to lay her down. She brushed the hair that fallen in her face behind her ear, then smiled at each of her daughters. She loved them all dearly. She bent and kissed each one over their tattoos and settled in beside Bela. She watched each of them sleeping peacefully.  

   

What would I do without them? She wondered to herself.  

   

She let sleep slowly take over as she put an arm over them all, holding them all closely to herself. She felt happy and contentment deep in her heart. They were hers, and she was theirs.  

Chapter 2

Notes:

Thank you all for the kind words and the kudos! I highly appreciate it!

You felt so tired. So restless, after waking from yet another dream, another dream of choking and gasping for breath. You hated it. You hated how afraid you always felt. How the sheets clung to you with cold sweat. You hated how your eyes burned from shed tears that escaped in your sleep.  

 
You laid awake for hours, tossing and turning, blankets pooled at your feet. Staring at the walls and ceiling, you counted how many of the family's crests that appeared. 45.  You finally relented and got up. 

 
You threw a few more logs into the fireplace and stood in front of the flames, hands outstretched and enjoying the warmth. Glancing at the windows and seeing how frost coated the glass, you knew it was yet another chilly night. You wondered what spring and summer looked like. Your sisters always talked about it. Having been reborn in early winter, you’d never experienced what it was like to truly see the sun. You were looking forward to seeing how the world looked without snow and ice. 

 
You knew that it was impossible to go back to sleep now, pointless to even pretend to try. You frowned as you looked back at the flames. You didn’t feel like staying in your room all night. Perhaps a visit to the library would help calm your nerves. 

 
You dressed and left your room, thumbing the sickle that Cassandra had gifted you. It put you at ease and gave you a sense of protection. You glanced fondly at the gift, eyeing the blue gem that was embedded into the hilt; the same gem that adorned your throat from the beautiful necklace Mother had given you a week after waking up. You reached up and stroked it with admiration, too. 

 
Playing with the sickle, testing its sharpness and durability as you walked in the quiet halls, made you feel less afraid, more secure the further away you walked from your room. From the terrible nightmares. 

 
The corridors were empty and dark, scarcely lit up by the occasional lantern or candle. You weren't afraid of the dark. It made the castle quiet and peaceful. Something you appreciated. Although after the nightmare, you wished your sisters or mother were here to keep you company, to help keep the thoughts from clouding your mind further. 

 
You shook your head as the door to the library came into view. Hopefully here you could escape the memories of your dreams, even if it was just for a few hours. Your hand had just grasped the handle when you heard someone speak. 

 
“Lady Eliza?” 

 
You turned your body to the direction of the voice, a frown forming on your face. 
A pretty maid that had wavy dark, brown hair and hazel eyes stared at you with nervous trepidation. The whites of her eyes shone in the moonlight. Lex. You spoke and even practiced flirting with her like how Daniela taught you a few times before. Your eyes narrowed slightly. 

 
“What is a pretty thing like you doing up this late at night?” You asked in a soft voice. “Don’t you know that it is dangerous at this hour? Something might happen to someone as fragile as you.” You felt your lips quirk up when you heard her swallow. 

 
“Forgive me, my lady. But I could not sleep. So, I thought that I might get a head start on my chores.” She shuffled her feet, eyes downcast. You could hear her heart rate rise. You could smell the sweet notes of her blood from a few feet away. She fumbled with her fingers as she glanced up, seemingly more nervous than before. You felt an eyebrow quirk as she took a few calming breaths in and tried to look you in the eye. 

 
“My lady? Um... I just wanted to say thank you... for that flower, you know. It was quite lovely. I saved it in the pages of one of my books.” 

 
You felt yourself smiling now. Dani always said to practice whenever you had the chance. 

 
“Pretty one, you don’t need to thank me. I just thought that the flower would compliment your beautiful eyes.” You stepped closer to her, pleased that she didn’t step away in fear. You smiled even wider when she didn’t flinch as you reached to push a lock of hair behind her ear. She was blushing when you pulled back your hand. 

 
“You're too kind to me, my lady. I don’t deserve such praise from someone like you.” Her hand had a slight shake to it as she reached out and stroked your arm, her fingertips just grazing the skin. Your smile showed teeth now. You giggled when she flushed a deeper red. 

 
“Don't deserve it? Pretty one, how could I not notice how pretty you really are? Your soft hair, your shining eyes? How beautiful you are when you're blushing for me?” You leaned in close, scenting her neck. She didn’t dare move away. 

 
“My lady...” She reached up again and placed a delicate hand on your chest. You quirked an eyebrow up again, amused by her courage. “Do you....um.... Would you like to go... somewhere else? Maybe?” She whispered. 

 
You leaned back slightly, eyes boring into hers. Would Dani approve of this? You felt like she would approve. This was a good thing, right? Maybe if you played your hand right, she would let you drink from her willingly. After a moment, you finally nodded in acquiescence. 

 
Lex stepped back, a small smile playing on her lips. She boldly took your hand in hers and led you through the hallways. She stayed slightly ahead but kept looking back at you with that soft smile of hers. 

 
Something about it... felt off. You couldn’t tell what exactly it was, but something felt off as you were led by the hand through the maze of corridors. You could practically hear Bela drilling into you about common sense and Cassandra instructing you to listen to your “hunter's instincts” as she liked to call it. 

 
You racked your brain as to what could be causing your distress. You were safe at home. Protected by your mother and sisters. You were stronger and faster than any of the maids who lived here in the castle with you. Yet, something still seemed off. 

 
You shook your head, trying to clear it. No. There was no reason to fear. It must have been the last dregs of your nightmare making you feel this way. You were Eliza Dimitrescu, youngest daughter of Alcina Dimitrescu. After all, Cassie said that humans were weak and slow. You were not afraid of anything, especially not this scrap of a girl. 

 
“We are almost there, it's my favorite place in the entire castle. I like to come here on my days off to sit and think. No one else goes there.” Lex giggled quietly. “It's pretty much just a storage closet, but it has a beautiful view of the mountains.” She looked back at you again, eyes bright. “I'm dying to show you.” 

   

You let out an amused snort; she was being silly. You’d seen what the mountains looked like, but you would humor her all the same. You felt like that was what Daniela would do. 

 
Rounding a corner and further down a set of hallways that you hadn't travelled since awakening, Lex led you to a closed door. She opened it to show a room filled with boxes and crates, some of them covered with tarp. There was a small table littered with books and scraps of papers, and a metal candle stick with melted candle wax sticking to the 
sides. She must come here to read a lot, you figured. 

 
She pulled you inside the room, and when you cleared the threshold, she shut the door behind you. 

 
“Well... this is the place. It’s not much, but it’s my little sanctuary.” 

 
You hummed in response, looking around. You didn’t notice at first the few paintings on the walls; yellowed with age, a fine layer of dust covered most of their surfaces. You made your way to the table and picked up one of the books, flipping it open. 

 
“How often do you come here?” You asked. 

 
“As often as I can. Like I said, it's only on my days off. Here, I wanted to show you the view of the mountains.” She quickly made her way over to the curtains on the opposite side of the table and flung them open. While still dark out, you could clearly see the mountains lit up by the stars. The top of the peaks were hidden away by the fog. They were quite beautiful, you had to admit. 

 
Lex stepped back and leaned on the wall, giving you space to come up and see them better. You gave her a toothy grin as you stepped closer, and the blush she had made you preen. She quickly glanced down and you noticed she was fumbling with the candle holder, picking off bits of wax in her nervousness. You didn’t even realize she had picked it up. 

 
“It's just nice to pretend that this little space is all mine, you know... not that it is!” She added quickly, eyes wide and look of panic plastered on her face. 

 
You chuckled at her. “It’s all right to pretend. Don’t worry, I won’t tell Mother.” The look of relief on her face softened your smile. You also couldn’t help the feeling of pride that your mother commanded such fear and respect out of her staff. 

 
Lex stepped into your space as she looked out the window. 

 
“I sometimes wonder what lies over the mountains. What the world is like out there.” She murmured quietly. “I hope that one day I can save enough to pay off my debts to Lady Dimitrescu and leave this place.” She said, staring hard outside. Her face was harsher than it was a moment ago. “I’ll admit that it’s a scary thought... to leave the village behind. It’s all I've ever known.” 

   

You nodded, you could understand that. “I don’t think I could ever leave this place. Mother and my sisters are all I have ever known. I would be nothing without them.” You said quietly. In your peripheral, you saw Lex's face harden, but just as quickly it had vanished into a blank expression. She took in a deep breath and sighed. 

   

“I have a family too, but I had to leave them all behind. To work here to help support them. I cannot see them. Ever. Maids aren't allowed to leave here. But you would know all about that, wouldn’t you...Harper?”  

 
Your face scrunched up in confusion. Harper? Before you could turn to look at her, a sudden movement and a loud crash could be heard, then agony. Pure agony ripped through your very being. You sucked in a sharp breath and icy needles shot through your lungs. You gasped at the pain. You never felt such pain in your life. You screamed. 
More movement caught your eye and as you turned, Lex barreled right into you. You stumbled and were knocked into the wall behind you. 

 
“You bitch!” Lex snarled. She held the candlestick holder in one hand, rivets of blood running down the length of her arm. She used the damn candle holder to smash the window?! 

 
You hissed, anger and pain ripping through you. She dared to attack you? In your own home! 

 
“You stupid little.... what?!” You had reached down for your weapon to find it missing. You glanced down in shock; where did it go?! Then suddenly your right shoulder was burning in pain as Lex used your own sickle to stab you in the shoulder right where it met your neck. 

   

You heard yourself screaming again, only to be cut off short as a foot planted itself onto your stomach and shoved. You fell backward into the wall again and slid down. You shrieked as Lex wrenched the sickle out. You saw bits of... crystal? fly out and hit the floor.  

 
It took you a few moments to realize that Lex was also screaming. 

 
“You used to be one of us! What's it like, Harper? To feel these damn weapons of yours turned against you?! You monster!” She was yelling such confusing things. You had no idea what the hell she was talking about. Gods, you were in so much pain. 

 
“I thought that once you were turned, you would at least remember your friends! We were all your friends! We were all in this bloody shit hole together!” She took a pace forward and you flinched. Mother would be disappointed in you, you thought weakly. 
“But the very moment you woke up?! You ate Bethany! You ate her like a damn beast!” Lex was seething, spit flying out of her mouth. “You are nothing more than a monster!” 

   

What did she mean? 'We used to be friends'? That was not possible. How could it? All you could remember was that lonely darkness and Mother's voice guiding you through it. She was lying!  

 
She raised your sickle again and slashed it down. You had raised your own hands to block it and even more pain followed as the blade cut your palms, but you had managed to grasp it and yank it out of Lex's grip. Your fingers were becoming numb, and the sickle clattered to the floor. You didn’t have to look at your mangled hands to know that they were crystalizing. 

 
“No...” you gasped. You noticed your flies were falling away. Dying. 

 
Lex fell upon you, nearly straddling your legs as her hands fumbled through your clothes. Searching. “You deserve all of this!” She snarled “You should die for everything you and your cursed family have done to us, Harper!” 

   

Why did she keep calling you that? Your name was Eliza.  

   

You tried to push her off with your broken, crumbling hands but she swatted them away.  

 
“Where... Is it?! Where is that damn key?” She hissed. No... you couldn’t allow her to get your key. Mother said that under no circumstances should the maids ever get ahold of your key. You would rather die than disappoint her any further! 

 
Turned out, you didn’t have to do anything at all. 

 
“What the fuck are you doing to my little sister?” A cold voice seethed. Lex was wrenched off you and you could see Cassandra. Through all the commotion, you both failed to hear the door open. 

 
Lex managed to turn around and was promptly backhanded, hard enough to be sent flying into a set of crates. She landed with a crash and a broken cry. Through shattered wood and disarrayed tarps, you could barely see her feet sticking out. Then your world was spiralling as Cassandra grabbed hold of you. 

 
You couldn’t help the cry of pain as she rushed out the door. 

 
“Shit... What the fuck? What the fuck!” Cassandra cursed. She could feel how cold you were, could see the dead flies and the wounds that had frozen over. 

 
“I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I was so stupid! Please I'm so sorry!” You cried out as she lowered you down, far enough away from the cold room. 

 
“What...?” Cassandra started to ask but stopped short when Lex appeared. Her eye was already swelling, her nose crooked, her lips split open and blood running down her face. 

 
“Oh shit!” Lex breathed. She started to run, trying to escape. 

 
“I don’t think so!” Snarled Cassandra. She rushed forward and before the maid could manage a few steps, Cassandra snatched her hair and pulled her back. Lex fell to the ground screaming. A clump of her hair was held tightly in Cassandra’s fist. Cassie kicked the maid hard enough to send her flying into a wall. The sound of cracking bones could be heard above the screaming. "You think you can hurt my baby sister and get and get away with it?! You think I'll just let you go?!” 

 
“No, please! I didn’t mean it! I swear! Please!” Lex pleaded. 

 
“You think I'm stupid?! Don’t insult my intelligence!” 

 
“Eliza!” Danela's voice cried out. She materialized right next to you, eyes wide in panic, her stricken face right next to yours. “Oh no! You're hurt!” Before you could reply she shrieked, “Mother! Mother! Come quick! She's hurt! Mother!” 

 
You felt your stomach drop at her call. 

 
“No! Please! I don’t want Mother to be disappointed in me! She doesn’t have to know! Just kill her and no one else has to know!” You begged. Dani ignored you as she called for Mother and for Bela to bring a blanket. 

 
Lex’s screaming and begging intensified as Mother was called. 

   

“ Please! I didn’t mean it I swear!” She cried out again as Cassandra aimed another blow to her side. She sobbed as Cassandra leaned down to grasp her throat, snarling insults at her. There was so much noise that it hurt your ears.  

 
Click. Click. Click. 

 
You all fell silent. Even Lex shut up as everyone heard it. Heavy heels against the floor. Cassandra froze, hand clasped tightly around Lex’s throat. Dani silenced her calls, arms wrapping around you, trying to keep you warm. 

 
Click. Click. Click. 

 
Your heart sank. Mother knew. She was going to be so upset with you. Upset with how stupid and careless you had been. The thought hurt you more than your wounds did. You bowed your head in shame. 

 
The clicking grew louder and louder and then, the huge form of your mother rounded the corner. The shadows hid her face, but you could see the glow of eyes, analyzing the situation. Your shame grew to unimaginable proportions as her eyes flicked briefly at you.  She could see your wounds. Could see the dead flies as the littered the ground around you. 

 
Bela materialized right next to her; her face filled with horror. With a gasp of 'Eliza'! She hurried forward, and crouched next to you, wrapping a fluffy blanket around you. You were grateful for the sudden warmth it provided, though it did nothing to lift your spirits. 

   

Mother knew. Mother could see everything.  

 
“Pray tell, what is going on in my castle so late at night?” Though she didn’t raise her voice, you could hear the malice dripping from each word. You flinched, even though it was not directed at you. 

 
Lex started to sob again as Alcina stalked forward. 

 
“My lady... please... I didn’t mean to! It was...” Lex was cut off by the harshness of Alcina’s words. 

 
“Didn’t mean to? Didn’t mean to strike out against my daughter? Didn’t mean to harm her?” Her words were laced with venom, her tone harsh and angry. 

 
“She broke the window, Mother! She was looking for Eliza’s key!” Cassandra hissed, her baleful gaze never leaving the maid's face. “She even cut Eliza with her own weapon!” The thought of her gift in any hands other than yours was enraging. 

 
Alcina hummed as she stopped just short of them. 

 
“Lift her up to her feet, Cassandra.” Their mother ordered. 

 
Cassandra released Lex’s throat and grasped her hair, yanking her up. Lex let out a screech as fresh pain assaulted her. 

 
“How did you know about my daughter's weakness.” It wasn’t a question. It was an order. 

 
“Please! My Lady! I didn’t mean...” She was cut off as Alcina slapped her hard enough to send her tumbling to the ground again. 

 
“I want answers, girl.” She snarled out. Her teeth glinted in the moonlight. “How did you know?” 

   

Crying, Lex reached into her clothes and took out a diary. Before she could say anything, Cassandra snatched it and handed it to her mother. 

 
Alcina opened the book, eyes flitting across the pages, the anger on her face mounting with each page. She closed the book with a snap. You and Lex flinched at the sound. 

 
“So, you decided to test out the secrets of this dairy on my youngest, did you?” She hissed, her eyes flashing dangerously. “You dared put your filthy hands on my daughter? To steal her key?” Her voice was progressively getting louder. “You tried to murder my child! I gave you a chance to work here in my home to pay off your family's debts and you repay me by trying to murder Eliza?” She was yelling now. “This insult to me and my family will be the last thing you ever do.” She glanced at Cassandra and gave a single, curt nod. 

 
Lex was screaming and begging as Cassandra slashed her sickle into her collarbone, holding her down as she leaned over her. 

 
“Hey, Eliza... you want me to show you how you really break hearts?” Her voice was manic and angry and delighted to finally end this treacherous bitch's life. 

 
Lex wasn’t strong enough to push Cassandra off. Her hits and punches did nothing to stop Cassandra from reaching down and burrowing into her chest. How her nails cut through flesh so easily. How ribs snapped with the intrusion. How Lex screamed. You would never forget it. It would forever be burned into your memory. 

 
One moment, Lex was screaming and crying and yelling curses at you and your family, the next. Silence. 

 
It was deafening. So out of place after all the noise. 

 
Cassandra jerked her hand, the squelching sound of blood and meat filled the air, then Lex's heart was removed. Cassandra's wrist was drenched in blood as she held it up and took a long look at it. She looked at you and reached out to hand it to you. 

 
“Here. Eat this. You will heal faster once you have fresh meat.” The manic look in her eyes was fading. The threat to her family was gone. You shook your head. You didn’t want that bitch's heart. 

 
“Take it.” Your mother ordered. You glanced up at her, shamed and nervous. She wasn’t looking at you, but the body. Her expression was cold. You did not want it, but you couldn’t disobey an order from her. 

 
Feeling crestfallen, you took Cassandra's offering. The blood was hot in your frozen hands. You swallowed, feeling bile at the back of your throat, but you took a bite. The blood ran down your throat, warming you up from the inside. 

 
As you ate quickly, your mother handed the book back to Cassandra. “Burn it.” She ordered, voice still as frigid as the outside air was. Once Cassandra retrieved it, Alcina turned and walked to you, scooping you up in one fluid motion. You let out a gasp of pain as you were lifted. It was then that Mother looked down at you, eyes softening. “Clean up this mess. I want the body to be prepared for Eliza. She will need it all to heal properly. Besides, it is only fitting that that treacherous rat be fed to her after all that she has done.” 

   

Only after a soft chorus of ‘yes Mother’ from your sisters did Alcina finally leave with you properly bundled up in her arms.  

   

You felt so tired. So worn out. You had so many confusing thoughts racing through your mind. It was all a jumbled mess. You closed your eyes. Your head hurt. You especially kept thinking back on what Lex said. How the two of you used to be friends. How you used to be friends with all the staff. How she kept calling you Harper. 

 
You didn’t dare ask your mother. She would be so angry at you for believing such lies. They had to be lies. Would else could they be? That bitch just wanted to torment you. Right? That was why she would make such things up: to mess with your head while you were in such pain from her attack. 

 
Your thoughts were interrupted when you felt wetness fall on your face. You blinked your eyes open to see your mother, with tears in her eyes. She was fighting back those tears, but one had escaped. You could still see the tear track on her cheek. You felt even worse than you did before. 

 
“I'm so sorry, Mother...” You reached up with a corner of the blanket and brushed the wetness from her face. “I was so stupid...” 

 
“Hush now, child. Just rest.” Her voice was as strong and commanding as ever. 

 
“But...” 

   

She hushed you again, tightening her grip on you, bringing you closer to her chest. “ You will never do that again, will you?” She asked as she looked down at your face. “You will never frighten me like that again. Do you hear me?” She sighed as you sheepishly nodded. “Good. You foolish little one. Let this be the last we ever speak of this dreadful night. Sleep now. You will feel better when you wake up.”  

   

You nodded in agreement. There was nothing else to say. You decided that you would never speak to anyone about what Lex said. She was only lying. She had to be lying. You couldn’t accept anything else.  

 
Your eyes closed with the gentle swaying as your mother moved through the halls. The movement lulled you to sleep. 

 
The sunlight shining through the window woke you up. You blinked the sleep away only to see yourself in Mother's room. You lifted your hands to find that they had been bandaged. You could feel the bandage on your shoulder. The pain of your wounds dulled. You wondered how you were bandaged without waking up. 

 
You flinched as an arm flopped over on you. Cassandra was beside you, still asleep. You would give her a proper thank you when you were both awake. Bela was on the other side, her face peaceful in sleep. You knew Daniela was in bed with you somewhere, you could hear her soft snores echoing. Mother wasn’t in the room. You wondered if she just left or if she never returned for sleep. You sighed as you settled down in the pillows again, eyes fluttering shut. 

 
Lex was wrong, you thought as you slowly drifted back to sleep, we are not monsters. No family as wonderful and loving as this could ever be monsters. 

   

Such a terrible liar she was.  

 
You snuggled in with your sisters before finally drifting to sleep again. 

Notes:

Once again, a huge thank you to shittyname123. She has been a huge help with encouraging me to write this and for taking the time to look over everything. make sure to check out her work Darling.

Chapter 3: Bonus chapter

Summary:

Alcina's pov from chapter one and the aftermath of Lex's attack.

Notes:

Apologies for the late update. life has been busy. This chapter is has not been bataed as my beta reader has been busy. I apologize for the mess that is this chapter. im dyslexic and it makes writing hard and can be very intimating. Mistakes are my own. Hopefully you still enjoy it. thank you all

Did you really think she was a fool? That she would not have guessed what you had been up to in her castle? Her domain? Alcina Dimitrescu was many things, but a fool was not one of them. 

She knew that Daniela found you in the basement. Looked upon her secrets. How her fiery red headed daughter had chased you out. Even how her daughter had gotten… sidetracked during the hunt. 

Alcina was no fool. She knew that your plan was to escape the castle. Where you would go. And she would be there to put an end to your silly little games. 

She was just walking through the courtyard and up the stairs up to the main door when she heard the pounding of panicked footsteps. Ah. Right on time. She waited till just the right moment, then placed a large hand on the door and swung it open with force. 

She smiled when she heard the gasp of horror from the little maid. Honestly, you should have known better.  

Alcina cleared the doorway and adjusted her hat while she glared at the little scrap. 

“My, my. What do we have here? Don’t tell me you thought your little escape attempt would actually work, now, did you?” she chuckled at the thought. How absurd of you. 

She watched as you took a step back, preparing to run again. She wouldn’t let you get far. She quickly reached out and grasped your throat, lifting you up with such ease. She felt immense satisfaction when you choked and grabbed her wrists. She could hear your heart beating like a drum, could smell your fear.   

She stared into blue eyes, watching as they slowly dimmed. Normally she would have just snapped your neck like she usually did to maids who tried to escape. She hummed as she looked over you. Today felt like a special day she decided. It has been a while since she last did one of her experiments. 

“Yes, I think you would do nicely.” She said as she slowly started to squeeze more. Her eyes locked on yours as she watched you fade from consciousness. She could see the regret in them. Then they closed. 

She dropped your body into a heap on the floor. Brushing her gloves off as she called her girls. 

“Daughters! To me please.” She didn’t have to raise her voice; she knew they would all hear. 

Three sets of buzzing followed by their owners' swarms materialized and formed. The first was Bela. Always punctual. Followed by Cassandra, who was frowning at the body. Then Daniela, face and teeth bloody and eyes full of manic glee. She loved her children so much.  

“Mother?” questioned Bela, awaiting her orders. 

Alcina reached out and cupped Bela’s cheek. “Would you be a dear and take this to my laboratory?” She nodded to you. Bela nodded eagerly and picked you up to take you away. 

She laid a hand on Cassandra’s shoulder, her daughters eyes looking up at her expectantly. “Would you please make sure my instruments and tools are in order?” 

She tightened her hold affectionately with Cassandra’s ‘of course mother! ‘And she flitted off. 

Turning to Daniela and rubbing the top of her head she asked. “My dear, after you wash yourself up, make sure that the maid's things in the staff quarters are disposed of. She will not be needing them anymore.” She chuckled at Daniela’s excited affirmations as she swarmed off. 

It was only a few hours later when Alcina finished her work. She had gotten proficient, having done it so many times before. Your body laid out on the table. Head bloody where she had cut you open. 

She washed her hands then settle to write down some notes. Everything had gone as normal. Nothing different to the countless others who turned into moroaica… besides her daughters of course. They were the exception to her experiments. 

Once she was done, she grabbed her wine glass, she would return later to find her newest husk of a creature groaning and monstrously deformed. You would serve her well by guarding her home. 

Few hours later, as she descended into her laboratory, she expected to hear the wailing of a moroaica. Strange. They normally would have reanimated by now. 

Stooping into the room, she glanced over at the body. Your head sticky with congealed blood. Nothing had changed. 

Alcina frowned. She set down the bottle of wine and glass on the table covered with notes and diagrams. Bending over the body, she examined it. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. She hummed as she stood up. Perhaps you were just a late bloomer. Or perhaps you would simply parish. That has happened before. She would have to make notes on this. 

Settling into her custom-made chair, she poured herself a glass of wine and dove into work. All would be revealed on time. 

Several more hours past. Having fully forgotten that your body was even still there. Fully engrossed in her papers, she didn’t hear it at first. She paused, pen hovering over paper. It was quiet. She had to strain her ears, listening closely. It was mostly silent, save for a soft hum that vibrated the air. No. Not a hum. An insect's buzzing wings. 

She frowned as she set her pen down. 

“Girls. You know I don’t like to be disturbed while I work.” 

….. 

No response came. She glanced around the room. Looking for a hint of one of her daughters. Her girls knew to respond when she called for them. They wouldn’t dare ignore her.  

She heard the quiet buzzing again. 

Her eyes rounded on you. Body still unmoving. 

The chair creaked as Alcina stood up. She peered over you. Looking for any signs of change. 

Buzz. Buzz. 

Brow furrowed, she leaned over. Face inches from yours. There… was movement in your mouth. She narrowed her eyes. 

A single fly was perched on your tongue. Little wings fluttering. As if sensing it was being watched, it crawled out and onto your bottom lip. It’s tiny legs reaching up as if in greeting.  

A fly?   

Alcina jerked back, eyes widening in astonishment. Impossible. It was inconceivable. How?  

The tiny creature started to wave its legs erratically. As if upset by the rejection. It fluttered its wings again and crawled down your face onto the edge of the table. Reaching for Alcina. 

Still in shock, she reached a long finger to the fly and watched as it climbed onto it. It circled twice and fluttered its wings again. Staring at her with large, blue hued eyes. 

Alcina has seen this before… but she never expected to see it again. After countless experiments, she never thought that anyone else would take to her experimentation again. The last one to come back from it was Daniela. She felt her heart lurched. 

So many others before having turned into moroaica  and yet… 

“My goodness.” Alcina breathed. Eyes impossibly large as she stared in amazement. “Another one…” 

With her free hand she carefully reached to stroke the fragile wings. The fly arched its back like how a cat would, seemingly pleased with the turn of events. Her heart softened at the action. 

She glanced at the body…  no. She looked at you with new eyes. Her entire perspective shifting.  

Another… child? It still seemed too real to be true. Reaching towards your hand, she gently grasped it. Giant thumb running over your tiny hand and wrist. This changes everything . It was decided then. You were hers now. 

Taking a deep breath, Alcina carefully lowered the little fly back to your lips. It buzzed and waved its feet again, angry at the audacity of being put down. 

She laughed at its antics. 

“Now, now. There is no need for such dramatics.” She told it fondly. 

Reaching under your shoulders and knees, she picked you up and held you close. Like how a mother holds her newborn. Cradling you close to her chest. She watched as the little creature descended back into your mouth. 

Turning on her heals, she swiftly existed the room. Long legs ascending the stairs with little effort. She would have to prepare one of the empty rooms in her daughter's wing of the castle. Till then, you would be put in one of the spare rooms close to hers. 

The buzzing that signified that one of her daughters was approaching echoed in the corridor followed by ‘mother?’ Bela materialized next to her and had to walk fast to keep pace. She looked at you with confusion in her eyes. No doubt wondering what was going on. 

“Dearest, would you do me a favor and retrieve this maid's files?” she indicated the bundle in her arms. Her eldest didn’t say anything, Still confused but nodded and swarmed off. Alcina had no doubts that her heir would tell her sisters on what was happening. They would all find her quickly enough. 

As she strode onwards, she caught a glimpse of one of the maids who was dusting the paintings along the walls. 

“You, come with me.” She ordered without looking back to make sure she was followed. 

“y-yes my lady.” The frightened maid squeaked out. Alcina would never tire from the music of frightened little heart beats. 

“It's Alex, right?” Alcina asked almost conversationally. 

“Um… it’s Lex my lady.” She answered meekly, she was nearly jogging to keep up. 

“Yes, yes. Of course, it is.” She honestly didn’t care what the human was called, but she kept her tone light. 

“I need you to get a bowl of hot water and a cloth. Return to me in the spare room next to mine. Once you are done with that task, I want you to stoke the fireplace and make sure that a supply of wood is close by. Can you do that for me? hmm?” 

“Of course, my lady!” Lex’s replied. She peeled off, eager to create distance from Alcina. 

In no time, she reached the room and once she cleared the doorway, she gently settled you down into the sheets. She smiled at you. She couldn’t help it. She never expected in her wildest dreams for this to happen to her again. 

Her thoughts were interrupted when Lex came stumbling in. Her hands full with the large bowl and a towel draped over an arm. 

Alcina wordlessly took the items and dipped the towel into the steaming water. She took great care washing your face and cleaned the blood out of your hair. Murmuring softly. She did not care that Lex was still in the room as she lit the fires. Did not care that the human could hear her speaking softly to you. She didn’t matter. 

“My lady? Is there anything else that you need of me?” Lex hesitantly asked. Alcina waved her hand dismissively, not even bothering to look at her. 

Her quick footsteps halted when Bela appeared. Alcina turned to see Bela giving her a cold glare. Then with an upturned nose, Bela passed the trembling maid and made her way to her mother. Lex quickly bolted from the room. 

“Here’s the files on the girl you requested.” She murmured, eyeing your motionless form on the bed. 

“What’s this about files?” Cassandra asked as she entered the room, followed closely by Danielle. “She wouldn’t say much else besides that some strange happen.” 

 Alcina took the proffered file with a gracious smile and set them aside. She motioned for her girls to come closer to her. When they did, she glanced at you before turning back to face them.  

“Girls. Tell me what do you see.” 

Bela's lips were perched as if pondering a hidden question. Eyes roaming over your body as if she could find the answer to the riddle. 

Cassandra shrugged nonchalantly. “Some dead girl.” She answered  

Daniela was staring hard at your face. Head tilted to the side. Her eyes narrowed to near slits when she jolted with an excited ‘oh!.’ She lurched forward, shoving two fingers into your mouth.  

Alcina grunted with displeasure, making a move to pull Daniela away when her red headed daughter removed her fingers, a line of saliva still connected to your mouth. On the tips of her fingers were two little flies.  

“Oh, another one, how lovely!”  Alcina leaned in closer, incredibly pleased that you were already progressing nicely. 

Each were fluttering their wings. Looking at them all with those giant blue hued eyes. One of them waved excitedly at Alcina. 

Alcina laughed lightly as she reached for it, palm facing up as the little creature moved from Daniela to her. It danced across her palm. It’s little feet tapping to an unheard song. Alcina felt her heart softening again. 

Bela and Cassandra looked on in shock. Cassandra’s mouth was hung open in bewilderment. Daniela started cooing at the little fly still perched on her hand. She wiggled her fingers at it, giggling when it waved its legs back at her. She moved her hand for Cassandra to see better when she moved in close to inspect it. Eyes still wide. 

“She’s… like us?” Cassandra asked. 

“Yes.” Alcina simply replied as she lowered her hand for Bela to see the one she held better. 

Bela extended her hand and watched the fly carefully crawl onto her finger. She was delicate with her movements as she inspected it. Eyes bright with wonder. 

“What does this mean?” she asked, eyes still trained onto the fly. 

Alcina reached back and grabbed a chair, sliding it over for her to sit on. She looked at each of her children as they each turned to look at her. 

“It means,” she began carefully “that you have a new sister.” 

“New sister?” Daniela asked, eyes lightning up. “I’ll actually be a big sister?” 

Alcina smiled again as she nodded. “Yes. It means exactly that. This girl is the first one to not turn into some mindless husk after I experimented on them in years. It means she is strong and worthy enough to become a part of our family.” 

Bela frowned slightly. “You're not… replacing us… are you?” 

Alcina reached over and brushed her hair to the side.  

“No, no. Never think that my dear. I could never replace any of you. I could never do that.” She saw the uncertainty fade away from their eyes. She was glad she was able to soothe their fears. 

“This will be a good thing. New life running in these halls. Someone like us. And I’ll be counting on you three to help me.” 

“Help with what?” Cassandra asked as she took the fly that was held by Daniela, holding it gently in her cupped hands. 

Alcina leaned back. Remembering the time when she had to care for her older children’s transformation. 

“Well for starters, she must be kept warm. She’ll be susceptible to the cold now. As her flies continue to multiply, they will need to be consistently fed.” 

“Oh! Oh I can do that now!” interrupted Daniela, her voice high and excited before she swarmed out of the room. 

Alcina shook her head slightly, exasperated but extremely relieved with Daniela’s excitement. She looked at her two remaining children. 

“She will need to be guarded. I do not trust the maids. They could try to harm her in an act of revenge against us.” 

“They can try.” Snorted Cassandra, her eyes glinting with the promise of blood if anyone were to attempt such a thing. 

“We will also need to prepare a room for her. Something to call her own.” 

“Can I do that? “Bela asked. “If it’s alright with you mother, I’ll have her room painted blue. “She motioned to the fly in her hands. “Same color as the flies.” 

“What a marvelous idea. Of course I approve.” 

“Will that be her color then?” asked Cassandra. If it is, I could make a sickle for her with a blue gemstone in the hilt.” 

Alcina thought for a moment. “Yes. I like that. Her old eye color was blue after all. It seems fitting, don’t you think?” her daughters reply was cut short by something crashing. Followed by a loud shriek. Moments later Daniela came into the room holding a bloody arm, sliced at the elbow. 

“Did you steal some maid's arm?” Bela asked incredulously. 

“I didn’t steal it. I asked If I could borrow it.” Daniela replied defensively. 

 She set the arm down beside you. Bela and Cassandra lowered the flies onto it. Almost immediately the two fluttered their way to the bloody end of the proffered flesh and began feasting. 

“Look! They are already hungry!” Daniela exclaimed. A giant grin on her face. The family watched at the flies tore into the meat. Their wings beating every few moments. 

“So… what are we going to call her?” Cassandra asked after some time had passed. 

“Excellent question Cassandra.” The matriarch of the castle leaned in and plucked the files from where they lay. Her eyes flitting across the pages. 

“Hmm. Her name was Harper. A rather common name if you ask me" Alcina said. A slight frown on her face as she continued to read. 

Bela scrunched up her face in thought. “What about Eliza then? I always liked that name.” 

Alcina looked at you with a contemplating gaze. “Eliza… Eliza Dimitrescu… it certainly has a better ring to it then Harper…” She looked at the files again. “Harper Moore. No. Eliza Dimitrescu sounds much more pleasing.” 

“It's such a pretty name.” agreed Daniela. 

“What else does it say about her?” asked Bela as she craned her head to see the files better. 

Alcina looked again, skimming the papers. 

“Not much. She has a father and mother. An older sister who was married off early to the local horse breeder's son. She was 20 when she joined the staff. That was almost a year ago. No major health risks or injuries. Rather ordinary. Or so we thought.” Nothing else of note struck out at Alcina. She set the files down again and looked at her daughters. 

“I appreciate how well you are all taking this. It makes everything so much easier.” 

“Of course mother. She’ll be just like us.” Cassandra said. 

“We will be able to teach her everything we know.” Bela added with a soft smile. 

“It’s going to be so much fun hunting together!” Daniela crowed. Her smile was the biggest out of all of them. Her teeth glinting in the firelight.  

“New life would do us all good.” Their mother agreed. “Now if all things go as they ought to, she will be reborn within a week. We have plenty of work to do before that happens. I want her comfortable when she awakens.” 

As the girls started to leave, Alcina called them back. 

“One last thing dears. Eliza Dimitrescu’s old life is no more. Harper Moore doesn’t exist no more. I want every single maid to understand this. They are not allowed to speak her old name or talk about her old life. It would not do her any good to be confused and unsure of herself. Especially when she would be so new to our way of life.” She looked at Bela fully and she could see that her eldest understood completely. 

Belas old life was… less than ideal. And when she stumbled upon an old relic of her past, it sent the poor girl spiraling down into a deep depression that took weeks for her to comprehend and get over it. 

The girls nodded in understanding.  

“Thank you. Now if you don’t mind, I would like to be alone with my thoughts.”  She dismissed them gently. Her daughters hugged her and said goodnight. 

When the girls started to leave, they began talking to each other in rush.  Bela promising to get to work on your new room right away. Cassandra commenting that she would need to find the maid that Daniela took the arm from and take her to the basement to ‘save her for later.’ Daniela excitedly saying she will make a list of things for the Duke to get to spruce up your room. 

When Alcina was alone, she lit up a cigarette and inhaled the smoke. She had a lot of work to do in the coming days, but she looked forward to it. She sat there, enjoying the peace and quiet as she watched over you. 

Some time had passed before she even realized that she was talking with you. Telling you about the castle, her life and that of her children was oddly refreshing to Alcina. It felt nice to share something so personal.  

After a few more hours of sharing her life with you, Alcina called it a night. She told you that she will be coming back every day till you woke up. She stood up and tucked you in with extra blankets. She then bent down and kissed your forehead and stroked your cheek one last time. She closed the door quietly and locked it. The clacking of her heels echoed as she walked to her study. Alcina knew she wouldn’t be able to rest tonight. She had far too much to do. 

 

One week after the attack 

Alcina was concerned. Only a week had passed since your attack, and she could see that you were still troubled.  

Since the attack, you’ve been moody and irritable, spending more time to yourself. Either in your room Mindlessly watching the flames in your fireplace or in the library, idly flipping through pages without actually reading was written.  

You tended to have a look of confusion etched on your face more often than not. Like you were conflicted with internal thoughts that wouldn’t let you be.  

Bouts of anger bubbled up occasionally. Even going as far as to snapping at your sisters though you never once dared to direct it at her. After being reprimanded for snapping at your sisters, you’ve began to direct it at the maids. 

Alcina wasn’t surprised that you held a grudge against them. But she was surprised by the anger . How your eyes burned whenever you saw one of them. How you monitored their every movements, waiting for them to slip up. The venom in your snarls when they did. There were a few instances where you had even set them up for failure. And killed them for it. 

After the fifth time, Alcina had to pull you aside and reprimand you again. Saying that while she understood your feelings, but that you couldn’t keep needlessly killing the staff as they are needed for the castle’s maintenance and for the harvest. After the talk, the attacks lessened, but you were still brooding. Even your sisters couldn’t bring you out of your foul mood for very long. 

Alcina hoped that this would pass soon. She wanted her cheerful daughter back. She hated seeing you so upset and angry. She felt like she failed as a mother to protect you from harm. She needed to find a way to get her daughter back. Which led to her confronting you after dinner. 

“Eliza, could you stay behind for a moment?” She asked after she dismissed her older daughters.  

You looked up from the plate of food you had been picking at, hardly have eaten any of it. “of course mother.” You replied in your soft voice. She watched as you pushed your plate away and turned to her. 

Alcina did not say anything at first but patted the seat that Bela sat in right next to her. You quirked an eyebrow but dutifully stood up and took the seat. 

Alcina was quite for a moment as she lit up a cigarette and gazed at you. She watched as you fiddled with your fingers as you waited. 

“My dear, I noticed that you barely touched your food. Are you alright?” she frowned when you shrugged your shoulders and murmured that you weren’t hungry. 

“Darling… I want to start off by apologizing. I… failed in protecting you. I’ve should’ve known what that damn maid was plotting.” She raised a hand to stop your protects “no. It’s my duty to make sure all of my children are protected and cared for. I don’t know what I would have done if she killed you.” Alcina bowed her head, her large, brimmed hat casting a shadow over her face. she looked up when she felt a tiny hand rest on her arm. Gold eyes gazing into hers. 

“Mother. It was my fault, not yours. I let myself be open for an attack. I was foolish enough to think that she was too weak to do anything.” 

Alcina shook her head. “You were not weak.” She paused. She had to choose her words carefully. She would never label her family weak. “She used your indisposition to the cold against you. I should have prepared you more on how deceitful the maids can be. There have been many attempts over the years by them. And many more to come, I’m sure of it.” 

 You looked at her, eyes full of conflicting emotions that broke Alcina’s heart. She briefly wondered if that maid had said something to you. Did she tell you the secret? It looked like you wanted to speak but decided to keep quiet.  She needed to pry. She needed to get to the bottom of this. 

“My dearest, did that maid… say anything to you? You would tell me if she did?” Alcina prayed that the terrible maid kept her mouth shut. Bela had a terrible experience and if she could help it, she would avoid you having to go through the same thing. “You know that you can tell me anything right?”   

You shook your head “No. Nothing important in any case.” She watched as you lowered your head. Eyes downcast. “Called me a monster but that was about it.” 

Alcina scoffed. Of course, that little bitch would say something like that. “You are no monster. If anything, my darling she was the monster. To attempt to murder a member of this household was truly a monstrous act. Don’t pay her words any mind.” If she could have that maid killed all over again, she would have done it herself this time. 

You looked up at her again, bottom lip trembling a tiny bit. “But she said that monsters eat people. said that I ate her friend like how a beast would! She said that…” Alcina interrupted you by placing a finger on your lips. Effectively silencing you.  

“Didn’t I just tell you that you are not a monster? Would you believe that maid over your own mother?” you shook your head no. 

“Would a human be called a monster if they ate the cattle that grazed on their fields? Ate the birds they keep in their coops?” you thought for a moment and shook your head again. 

“It’s the natural order of things. Cattle are the prey of humans. And humans are our prey. Humans do not care listen to the concerns of their prey, so should we listen to theirs?” another shake of your head. Your eyes never leaving hers. 

“No.” she agreed. “We do not. You understand?” 

“Yes mother.” 

“The natural order of things.” Alcina reiterated, then sighed. She was painfully aware that she did not have much experience in comforting others in such a matter as this. 

Alcina reached to cup your face. “Little one, I love you. You know this right?” 

She did not like the long pause as you slowly blinked up at her. Emotions guarded till a soft smile formed on your face. You reached to grasp the hand that held your face and squeezed.  

“I know this, mother. I love you too. I’m sorry I been out of… sorts lately. I’m just going through some things right now.” 

Alcina nodded. She understood that you still needed some space, even though she disliked it. She wished she got more out of you. But she wouldn’t push you into revealing what was on your mind. Not yet at least. 

She leaned down and kissed the rose tattoo on your forehead. Then rested her own on yours. Enjoying the closeness she shared with her children. 

“Remember that you can tell me anything Eliza.” She leaned back to look you in the face again. “As your mother, I will try to understand.” 

You stood up abruptly and hugged her tightly as you buried you face into her dress. 

“I know mother. Thank you.”  

Alcina felt her heart ease. While things weren't completely mended... this was a good step forward. 

Notes:

i suck at pep talks so i was not completely satisfied with Alcina trying to comfort her daughter, but hopefully it came out all right.

Chapter 4

Summary:

Sorry for the long wait, life has been busy. had to split up this chapter as it was going to be too long. hope you enjoy

Several months passed since your rebirth. So much had happened since then. So much love and joy filled your days with your family. Time spent in your mother’s and sisters’ company had been the greatest gift you could have ever asked for. Each showered you with adoration, cared and doted on you (sometimes a little too much in your opinion; they didn’t always seem to remember that you were not actually a child), taking the time and effort to teach you everything they knew.  

 

Bela loved teaching you the art of wine making: how to negotiate and trade with humans. How to, in Cassandra’s own words, ‘not take their bullshit.’ Bela admonished her for that one. She showed you how the shipping and receiving worked, and that keeping detailed records was extremely important. You didn’t care much for record keeping, but you tried your best.  

 

Cassandra showed you how to handle your sickle, how to flourish and wave it to add dramatics. Apparently, that was important, though you weren’t sure why. Learning defensive moves frustrated you more than you cared to admit. You feared you would never live up to her expectations.  

 

Daniela taught you about music and literature. You found out that she liked more genres other than romance: geography, history and surprisingly, math. The maids did her a disservice by saying she was simply delusional. The most important thing she taught you was that it didn’t matter that you weren’t as good as your sisters in their hobbies. Being true to yourself was what mattered most.  

 

Mother taught you how to be assertive and independent, how to command. You had your place here, and the maids had theirs. They were here to serve you and the family. Despite being the lowest on the hierarchy, as the youngest and all, your place would always be greater than theirs.  

 

You didn’t have the same level of talents or interests as your sisters had in their hobbies. Not Bela’s concentration and organization in bookkeeping, Cassandra’s flair for weaponry, or Daniela’s enjoyment of reading and music, though you did like reading to a certain extent. They encouraged you to find your own hobbies that you could call your own. That ended up being art. You found you had a knack for painting and clay working. You loved it so much that mother purchased you high quality paints and your own pottery wheel.  

 

Life was good, but along with the good, comes the bad.  

 

You kept having nightmares of choking and fear. Flashes of red and gold. It kept you awake some nights. You didn’t remember ever being choked; you didn’t know where this fear had come from but you wondered if something happened that you just couldn’t remember. There were feelings of inadequacy, too. Like no matter what your family said, you simply weren’t good enough. That no matter how hard you tried, you were never good enough.  

 

Worthless.  

 

You constantly feared disappointing them. Feared that they were disappointed that you still couldn’t swarm, that they judged you for it. That you would never be able to do it. Feared that someday, you would lose them. Whether it be through death or abandonment, you’d be alone as a result. That feeling was familiar to you somehow.  

 

Then there was that incident with Lex…  

 

How easily she had lured you away. How she used the cold against you, your own weapon against you. Calling you by a name that was not your own. The look of hate in her eyes, saying that you were friends once. You knew she was a liar, but still… something about it seemed true… somehow. After the night of Lex’s attack, you began to have flashes, images of people you’d never met. Dreams. More nightmares. Visions of a man with cruelty written plainly on his face, a woman with cold indifference at your pain, a girl who looked barley older than yourself gazing upon you with disdain and smug arrogance. You didn't know them, but you hated them with every fiber of your being.  

 

You told yourself that it was Lex’s words getting to you. She could not be trusted. She was a liar after all.  

You kept those things to yourself. Your family didn’t need to be bothered about the awful thoughts in your head. You could handle them on your own.  

 

Since waking up from your dark solitude, winter was all you'd known. The chill and snow kept you and your sisters trapped in the castle, but winter was finally relinquishing its grip on the village. The sun felt warm, even when shining through the windows. The snow began to melt into muddy slush. You were enamored with how much green there really was hidden underneath the snow.  

 

When the snow had melted into puddles was when Daniela asked the question at breakfast one day.  

 

“Mother? It looks so nice outside, could we please visit the village? It’s been so long.” She asked wistfully, big, round golden eyes pleading.  

 

You paused in your eating, glancing up at your mother to gauge her reaction. You didn’t need to look at Bela and Cassandra to know they were doing the same. Mother didn’t say anything at first, a frown on her lips as she inhaled her cigarette. You could tell she wasn’t fond of the idea.  

 

“We will be careful, please Mother?” Dani pleaded, her eyes growing impossibly wider.  

 

“Dearest, it’s still cold outside. I don’t think it would be a good idea.” Mother finally answered. She briefly glanced you before looking back at her former youngest. Was she worried about something else? About you?  

 

“We will wear coats. We promise to be careful.” Daniela reiterated again. “I want to visit the bookstore.”  

 

“I wouldn’t mind checking out the market for plants and seeds for the garden.” Bela mentioned as she set down her fork.  

 

“If you're worried about Eliza, I'll keep an eye on her. I want to check out what the blacksmiths have in store.” Cassandra offered.  

 

You felt a slight irritation at being treated as a child but kept your mouth shut about it. You too wanted to explore the village. Your sisters told you many stories about it and you were eager to see it for yourself.  

 

“I promise to stay with Cassandra. I won’t leave her side.” You nodded eagerly.  

 

“If it starts getting too cold, we will return home right away.” Bela added. It was rare that she looked so excited. Mother was silent as she watched her children’s faces, her own expressionless. You wondered if she would deny you all. Finally, she took another puff and exhaled, exasperated.  

 

“Oh, very well. You may go for a short time.” She interrupted her daughters' excited cheers as she added, “you may only go to the bookstore, the marketplace and the smiths. I don’t want any unnecessary trips.” She glanced at you again as she said this, something flashing across her eyes.  

 

You knew then she was definitely worried about something, but what was there to worry about? You would be with your sisters. You dared not ask her, though.  

 

Your sisters grumbled but accepted her terms. Mother nodded, finally satisfied.  

 

“Good. You may leave after breakfast.”  

 

You all dove into your food with excitement.  

 

Bundled up and one quick carriage ride later, you stepped foot in the village for the first time.  

 

The village looked dilapidated and run down up close. Buildings were in various states of disrepair, and some were out right abandoned. The roads were muddy and uneven, ruined by tracks from humans and horses imprinted into the ground. Trash littered the area. The smell of mildew hung heavy in the air.  

 

So far… you were not impressed.  

 

Still, this place reminded you of… something. Something in the back recesses of your mind seemed to recognize this shoddy, backwards dump. Like somehow you knew it from a long time ago but had simply forgotten.  

 

You must have had a scowl on your face because Dani asked you what was wrong. You shook your head clear and smiled as best you could.  

 

“It’s nothing, I was just expecting… more, based on all your stories.” You replied in your soft voice.  

 

Cassandra let out a bark of laughter. Her teeth glinted in the sunlight. “There isn’t much to this shitty town.”  

 

She laughed again as Bela scowled at her for her language. Cassie teased her for being so proper but Bela didn’t rise to her baiting.  

 

“No there isn’t much to the town, but it’s always nice to be out of the castle. And the villagers tend to leave us alone. They know better to not try anything with us.” Bela brushed a wave of your hair behind an ear before continuing. “You’ll be safe from them. But make sure you stay with Cassandra. No wandering off.” She gave you a pointed look and you rolled your eyes back at her. She huffed before reaching over to flick you over the rose tattoo on your forehead.  

 

You let out an indignant squawk as you rubbed the area she flicked, glaring up at her. She smirked as she turned around, leaving to find the marketplace.  

 

You stuck out your tongue at her back, making Dani giggle at your childish display. She waved bye at you before going off to find the bookstore.  

 

“Come along, little one.” Cassandra motioned to follow her as she left in the opposite direction from the other two.  

 

You dutifully followed in her footsteps.  

 

You trudged your way through the muck, while avoiding the shit. You grimaced as you followed. It would take the maids forever to clean your boots.  

 

As you walked, your eyes continuously scanned your new surroundings, taking note of the various shops and buildings. You noticed that wherever you went, the people recoiled and avoided you. It pleased you. Since Lex’s attack, you took more pleasure in the fear of humans.  

 

You passed by an old woman’s stall, her handmade cloths and clothing out on display. She turned her face away.  

 

A young man selling tools paled at your approach and he quickly went inside the building behind his shop.  

 

A grizzly man selling pelts and leather works looked down at the ground as soon as he saw you. He wouldn’t dare meet the Dimitrescu Daughters' eyes. As you passed, you saw the fur of what looked like a white fox. You briefly wondered if Mother would have enjoyed it as a gift. There truly wasn’t anything special about the village, but Bela was right. It was nice being out of the confines of the castle and enjoying the fresh air and sun. You rather liked spring, you thought. It brought new life.  

   

Your thoughts were interrupted, and you suddenly stopped in your tracks.  

 

A woman opened and closed the door of a shop. Her hands were burdened with her goods. She didn’t seem to take notice of you as she had no reaction to your presence like the other villagers. She was admittedly pretty. Dark hair fell in waves past her shoulders. Bright blue eyes. Full lips. Rather tall. Almost as tall as yourself. She looked healthy and fit despite being in a poor village.  

 

Hatred flooded over you. You had no idea where it came from.  

 

Something deep in your very bones hated this woman. Like she somehow did you wrong. Why? You never met this woman in your life, but somehow, she was just so familiar. It was something you could not ignore.  

You stood there in place, just watching her as she turned to leave, heading down a road, none the wiser she was being watched.  

 

You had to find out why you reacted like this. Completely forgetting about Cassandra and your promise not to wander, you followed the stranger. You followed her down the road and through the alley way she had turned down. You kept your distance, eyes never once leaving her back. She passed by villagers who smiled warmly and exchanged friendly words with her. She was kind to them in return and spoke fondly as she passed. You felt a snarl form on your face at their exchanges. Somehow you knew she wasn’t friendly and kind. She was a liar. You just knew.  

 

The villagers' friendly demeanor instantly shattered when they caught sight over you, but you never spared them a glance, fully focused on the vitriol you felt towards this woman. You wanted to catch her alone and question her. You needed answers.  

 

It took longer than expected but finally, when you couldn't sense any other humans nearby, you charged.  

The sounds of rushing footsteps must have alerted her because she started to turn around, but before she could complete the turn, you were already upon her. Slamming her into a house, she let out a pained yelp. Her goods scattered all around the two of you. She started to scream but you grabbed her and slammed her into the house again.  

 

“Be quiet!” You hissed out, teeth still bared. Despite the anger and hatred, your voice was as soft and quiet as ever. You never did have a loud voice, something your mother liked to comment on.  

 

“What are you…” The woman tried to say.  

 

You slammed her into the house again, cutting off her words. Her pained gasp did little to ease your fury. Grasping her shoulder, nails cutting into skin, you turned her so that her back was pressed into the wall. You had brought out your sickle, twirling it once in your hand, just like Cassandra showed you, before pressing it to her collarbone. She shrieked when the cold metal pressed against her, eyes wide and full of terror. You moved to hold it against her throat.  

 

“I said be quiet.” You snarled, voice low and dripping with menace.  

 

She finally shut her mouth, teeth making an audible click. She had tears in the corners of her eyes. A soft whimper formed in the back of her throat.  

 

“Who are you? I know you somehow. Why do I feel such hatred towards you?” You questioned. You placed your sickle back down to her collarbone, giving her room to speak.  

 

She blinked. Blue eyes scanned your face and you saw the moment when recognition flashed over them.  

“ You ? But how? Impossible.” She stammered. You watched with mild interest as the terror faded into… nothingness. Her face went eerily blank.  

 

“Who are you?” You asked again, your own expression slipping into cold determination. Her eyes that had been scanning your face finally locked into yours. Her expression cracked at what she saw there. Her face paled.  

   

“What did they do to you? What did they turn you into?”  

   

'Turn you into' ? You had always been like this since waking up. You didn’t like her answer. It reminded you of Lex.  

 

You snarled louder this time, your patience running out. “Who the fuck are you?”  

   

“Aria Moore-Benton.” She paused; face still ashen. “We’re sisters…”  

 

……  

 

Sisters?  

 

You saw red. You had sisters, but she sure as hell wasn’t one of them.  

 

Slamming her into the wall again you hissed out, “don’t lie to me!”  

 

“I’m not! It’s true! You're my little sister and we grew up together in a small house just down the road! Harper, how could you not remember?” Aria gasped out quickly. “We lived with our father and mother before you got shipped off to the castle to work off our father's debts.”  

 

You froze. Harper… she knew that name. You didn’t want to focus on that for now.  

 

“Shipped… off? Why? Explain.” You demanded.  

 

“Yes. Our farm was running poorly, and father couldn’t find a man wealthy enough to marry you off to like he was able for me. And you weren’t doing your job on the farm well enough to excuse keeping you around. You were just an extra mouth to feed.” She took a deep breath before continuing. “So he sold you off to work as a maid to ease some of his debts and your wages were sent to us. Everything was fine until several months ago when the payments stopped coming to us. We assumed they killed you.”  

 

You were sold? Your vision flashed, begging and pleading with some man who looked a little like you. His blue eyes glinted. Cold and unyielding. The woman standing next to him did nothing to help you. You didn’t want to go to the castle. It was a death sentence.  

 

But the castle was home. It was all you'd ever known. Wasn’t it?  

 

Your grip slackened.  

 

Aria took your silence as permission to continue. Her face grew more and more cold by the second as she became emboldened. “He said you were worthless. You couldn’t even do the simplest things right! Always messing up. You were never good enough for the family. Nothing but a burden.”  

 

Not good enough.  

 

Worthless.  

 

A burden.  

 

It was like she had read your innermost thoughts. Everything horrible you ever thought about yourself was being spoken out loud.  

 

Your arms fell to your side. You couldn’t move.  

 

You’d heard all this before. You knew you had.  

   

More images flashed before your eyes. A raised hand swinging towards your face, already bruised from beatings. Objects thrown in your direction. Tables turned and chairs broken. Body shivering and fingers numb with cold, the front door locked. Keeping you out. You could almost hear the screaming and yelling.  

 

“I’m surprised that the monster who runs the castle hasn’t killed you, considering how useless you are.” Aria sneered.  

 

She had become too bold.  

 

You could hear clicking and buzzing, a few of your insects flying around in anger as you backhanded her. She yelped as she hit the ground. Her lip was busted where you had struck her. Your teeth bared into a snarl.  

 

“Don’t you dare speak of my mother like that!” You yelled. “Don’t you ever speak ill of House Dimitrescu!”  

   

“Mother?! What did they do you, Harper? She changed you! You're just like her, aren’t you? A monster!” Aria screamed, her blood spitting out. “You...”  

 

You cut her off with a swift kick, hard enough to send her crashing into the wall of the house. You kicked her several more times, hissing curses at her. More flies were swarming now. So enraged, you didn’t think of the fact that this was the first time that they were swarming like this.  

   

“How fucking dare you?! You bitch! I'll teach you what happens when you insult us!”  

 

Two more kicks and you heard something crack. Aria screamed in pain.  

 

Hearing footsteps rounding the corner, your head snapped up to find a woman staring at you in horror, her face pale with fear. You didn’t want to deal with her.  

 

“Leave!” You snarled.  

 

The villager nearly yelped, then turned tail and ran, leaving you to turn your focus back onto your prey.  

 

“Call me a monster? I’ll show you what a monster truly is.” You kicked Aria once again then leaned forward, reaching for her neck. You would rip out her tongue and shove it down her throat. You would gut her as she choked on it, watching her bleed out. You’d-  

 

Before your hand closed on her neck, someone roughly grabbed your shoulders and yanked you back. You stumbled a few steps before rounding on Cassandra. She looked shocked to see you so enraged. Her eyes grew wide as she took in the situation.  

 

You jabbed your finger at the human sharply. Aria was curled up in a ball tightly. She flinched as if she could feel the jab. She was crying and her breaths sounded ragged and wet. Blood splattered on the ground when she weakly coughed.  

   

“Is it true? Is what she said true? That I used to be human? That mother turned me into a monster?” It was surprising how clear your words were with how loudly you were clicking.  

 

Cassandra blinked, looking absolutely stunned. You’d never spoken to her like that before.  

 

“Well? It’s true, isn’t it? My name was Harper, wasn’t it?” You demanded when Cassandra said nothing. “It’s what she said! It's what Lex said! Why wasn’t I told anything about this?!” You glared at her.  

 

You watched as Cassandra opened and closed her mouth, unable to say anything. She kept glancing at Aria then back at you. Her shock, her reluctance, gave her away.  

 

“You all knew who I was?” You hissed.  

 

Cassandra still didn’t say anything, but only offered a single nod.  

 

You were expecting renewed anger, but instead you were overwhelmed by sadness and the feeling of betrayal from your family. You thought they trusted you enough to tell you everything. It hurt to be kept in the dark on extremely important details such as this. It stung even more finding out this way.  

 

“So did none of you trust me enough to tell me?”  

 

Cassandra didn't answer at first, unable to say anything until she finally got her thoughts in order. “Mother didn’t want you finding out. She knew it would hurt you.”  

 

A hiss left your lips as you glared up at your so-called older sister. You took a risk and jabbed a finger into her chest, making her flinch, but she otherwise didn’t move. She seemed upset. It was almost enough to calm you down. Almost.  

 

“It hurts more being kept in the dark. I should have been made aware of the circumstances.”  

 

Turning on your heels, you stomped off, not even bothering to look back at Aria. She could bleed out for all you cared. You heard hissing and a yelp of pain, but you didn’t stop or look back as you rounded the corner to leave.  

Notes:

Hopefully the next chapter wont take as long.

Chapter 5

Notes:

I apologize for the long delay. There were so many things going on and work has been very busy. This chapter was really difficult for me to write. i struggled so much when writing. I knew what i wanted, but so many times I just could not put my thoughts down in a way that made sense. If anyone is still reading this, thank you for your patience. I hope you enjoy

To say that you were upset was an understatement. You were absolutely pissed off. You felt betrayed by your mother and sisters for not trusting you with the truth, felt hurt that your… human family deemed you unworthy enough to keep around. A hiss escaped through your clenched teeth as you stomped through the village, villagers parting like the Red Sea as you stormed by. Gasps of fear and eyes full of hate and mistrust, they avoided you. You didn’t mind you welcomed it.  

 
Did they know who you used to be? They must think you were a monster too. Were you? Perhaps so. You consumed human flesh. Drank their blood. Enjoyed the taste. Only a monster would do any of those things. 

 
Your stomach twisted at the thought. Your mother had eased your worries about being a monster. She said you weren’t, but was she wrong? No, she couldn’t be. It was impossible, she was never wrong. She would be disappointed if she knew you were questioning her. She did not like being questioned. It was foolish of you to think otherwise, but a small part of you couldn't help but think she was wrong. You frowned. Oh dear…you really were questioning her. 

   

Thinking back to a time when you and your family were sitting down for dinner, conversations and laughter flowed easily as the wine in your cups. You didn’t know why, but you had asked where you came from. The thought came to you unprompted. Maybe it was the nightmare you suffered the night previously that led you to ask her  

 
Your sisters had quieted immediately. You could feel their eyes on you, but you kept yours on Mother. Her face was unreadable as she took a long, indulgent drag of her cigarette. When she blew out the smoke her face brightened with her smile. Her teeth glinting through red painted lips. 
 
 

She chuckled quietly as she said, “my dear Eliza, you have always been here. Right where you belong. With your sisters. With me. This castle has always been your home and always will be. That will never change.”  

 
You had smiled at her words. They felt right, felt comforting…but now they didn’t feel so right anymore. 

 
Lex, Aria... your memories told you a different story. You had not always been living in that castle. Your feet stopped dead at a crossroad. You knew these roads. You remembered travelling down them plenty of times before. Looking left, the path that travelled home: to Mother. Looking right led down further into the village. It felt painfully familiar. 

 
You paused. You wanted to turn right, to find out where it led, to gain some answers, but Mother said not to wander off. You had already disobeyed her. She was going to be upset with you even more if you turn down that road…but you needed answers. 

   

Sucking in a deep breath, you turned left. Maybe Mother would tell you what you desperately needed to know. You needed to go home now; consequences be damned.  

 
As you reached the carriage, you heard someone shout your name and the sounds of buzzing that announced your sisters' arrival. Bela materialized first, a frown on her lips and an eyebrow raised. 

 
“Eliza? What are you doing here alone? Where is Cassandra? You're not supposed to leave her side.” 

   

Shrugging and waving your hand back where you came from, you replied dully, “somewhere back there.”  

 
As you continued forward to the carriage, Daniela popped up beside you, eyes full of concern. “What happened? You're upset.” 

 
You laughed, hollow and angry. Might as well ask them. “Did you know Harper?” 

 
Daniela balked at the question and Bela blinked in surprise. 

 
“How do you know that name?” 

 
You laughed again, more manic than before. “I met my sister. My human sister. You knew, didn’t you? You all knew.” Your laugh devolved into a hiss. “Why didn’t you say anything to me?” 

 
Daniela shuffled uncomfortably, but Bela answered. “Mother told us not to.” 

 
“Why not?” 

 
“She didn’t want you to know. Didn’t want your feelings to get hurt.” 

 
“Well, I do feel hurt!” You snapped back. “I shouldn’t have to find out from her that I wasn’t wanted! That I wasn’t good enough!” 

 
“You're good enough for us!” Bela clipped back, the beginnings of a snarl forming on her face. 

 
“I’ve asked you all where I came from but none of you thought I deserved to know about my family!” 

 
“What does it matter?” Daniela asked, voice high with distress and panic. “You're with us now!” 

 
You hissed and continued on to climb into the carriage, feeling done with the conversation. You weren’t getting any answers from them. 

 
Bela and Daniela shared a look then followed. 

 
You ignored your sisters' questions and concerns as you travelled home, gaze trained out the window and mind plagued with how you would broach the topic to Mother. 

 
It seemed like ages had passed when the castle finally came into view. The sight should have filled you with joy, but dread settled into your belly. As the carriage pulled into the gates, you took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. Before your sisters could get a word in, you opened the door and slid out before the carriage came to a complete stop. You nearly tripped as you ran up the stairs and plunged inside. The maid who had opened the door to welcome you home had to hastily take a few steps back, lest you knock her over. 

   

The entrance of the castle was warm and cozy but all you felt was icy dread as you ran through the hallways. You had a feeling that you knew where Mother was. Your theory had been correct as you found her in her study, sipping a glass of wine as she mulled over whatever papers she was working on. She looked as beautiful and powerful as always. You’d always loved her; even now that hadn’t changed. You regretted that you had to disturb her peace. 

 
“Mother.” 

   

Mother looked up from her work and she smiled that brilliant smile of hers, eyes lightning up at seeing one of her daughters. “Eliza, I am glad to see you back. How was your trip to the village?”  

 
You could not answer at first, looking down as you fumbled with your clothing as you gathered your thoughts. You heard the soft clink of glass as Mother set her wine down on the table beside her. “Eliza? What’s the matter? Did something happen?” 

   

The worry in her tone of voice made you feel even worse. 

 
“Eliza? Tell me what’s wrong. You know I do not like to be kept waiting.” 

 
“How could you keep such a secret from me?” You asked quietly, not daring to meet her in the eye. “How could you not tell me?” 

 
“Secret?” 

 
Taking another deep breath, you pressed on. “I met someone in the village. My…sister. She told me who I was. Who I used to be. About my family. Who they were.” Finally daring to look up you saw that the warmth in her gaze had turned cold. Angry. You were wary, but you'd come this far. “How could you?” 

 
Mother didn’t move save for the flare of her nostrils. One hand was clenched in a fist. 

 
You tried again. “Mother, how-” 

 
“I knew it. I knew I shouldn’t have let you out of the castle!” She stood up abruptly, her loving smile a distant memory. “I should have taken care of those filthy humans long ago!” She strode over towards you quickly. 

 
Startled by how suddenly she was approaching you, you stepped a few feet back, your backside hitting the doors that weren’t closed before. For the first time ever, you were afraid of your mother. 

 
She stopped before you, rage radiating, and her teeth bared. “I should have killed them all before you even woke up from the experiments!” 

 
“Mother!” You tried to get a word in edgewise. “You lied to me! You said I was always here! You said-” 
 
 

Her hand shot out and gripped your jaw, cutting you off. Her grip wasn’t painful, but you knew how quickly that could change. She held your jaw firmly as she glared down at you. “I never lied! Eliza has always been here in this castle.” 

 
“But Aria said-” You quieted down when mother flexed her fingers. They still didn’t hurt, but the promise was there. 

 
“Aria... she will be the first one to die. Anyone who disrupts my family must go. So. Tell me daughter, she told you everything, did she? How your father,” she spat the word out, “sold you into my care? How he abused you? How the failure of your human mother did not protect you? I know everything. I investigated your family after the first of your flies appeared for me. Why are you so upset about this? 
Why do you question me? Haven’t I raised you with love? Protected and cared for you, unlike them? Haven’t I earned your loyalty? If it weren’t for me and my experiments, you would have been nothing more than a memory of a little mouse scurrying in my corridors, hiding in the shadows.” 

 
“Experiments?” You asked fearfully. She really did experiment on you. You felt sick. Mother's facial expression did not change. 

   

“ Harper Moore was quite naughty, you know. Going where she wasn’t supposed to go. Spying on my secrets. Then she dared to try to run. She had to be punished. I took her to my lab and performed the same experiments that created those disgusting husks that reside in the basement. But to my shock, her punishment became your gift. Just like with your older sisters. My precious daughters. I turned you into what you are now. Someone worthy. Strong and beautiful and full of life when you had none before as Harper Moore.”  

 
Mother wasn’t holding anything back now. Her words cut you to the quick. She had killed you. She choked you. You’d never had to deal with her being so cruel towards you. You didn’t know how to react, so you stood there listening to her as she continued. 

 
“And now that I’ve made the mistake of letting you out, my biggest fears have come to pass. You meeting your former family has caused you to question everything I have done for you.” 

 
“No! That’s not it!” You hurried to explain yourself. “It’s the dreams! I have had them for so long! They will not stop! And ever since Lex, they’ve gotten worse!” 

 
Mother hissed, causing you to shut your mouth quickly. Mother was furious. “So that vermin did say something to you. Ever since her attack you’ve been acting differently. I should have known. You lied to me when I asked If she said anything to you.” 

 
Didn’t Mother lie to you as well? You were not about to point that part out to her, lest she get even more angry. Before either of you said anything more, a pained wail echoed. You heard your sisters hissing and snarling, berating whoever it was that was screaming. The sounds of flies swarming started to become louder and louder and Mother let go of your jaw and stepped back, waiting. You stepped to the side just in time as the doors flung open and in the lead was Cassandra, her sickle buried into the clavicle of Aria, who hadn’t stopped screaming and crying. Her face was severely bruised and more blood than you had left her with was streaming down in rivulets. She cried harder when she saw Mother. Daniela appeared soon after, her teeth already bloody. 

 
“Is this her? The little bitch who filled Eliza's head with her disgusting words?” Mother asked coldly, her eyes blazed like molten gold. 

 
“Yes mother! I found Eliza attacking her. I’m sorry! I shouldn’t have let Eliza run off. It’s my fault…” Cassandra replied, her tone mixed with remorse and hatred. 

 
Aria looked at you, her once gloating gaze now filled with terror. “You see! I told you! You're just like them! A monster!” She screamed again as Cassandra twisted her blade further into her collarbone. 

 
“That’s quite enough out of you.” Mother growled. “Cassandra, take our guest down to the basement. I will deal with her later.” 

 
Once Cassandra dragged Aria away, Mother turned to you, frowning. “Do you see what I was trying to protect you from?” Anger still edged her voice. 

 
“I’m- I’m sorry mother, I just wanted to know who I was, I only wanted to find out...” 

   

“Still? Even now, after everything?” 

 
You nodded. 

 
Mother’s frown deepened into a sneer. She drew herself up even higher. “Very well. Then I give you permission to find go find out. Find out the hard way how your mortal family cast you aside. It's just as your sister had said. Go. Go visit that old hovel you once called home. When you’ve have confirmed what you already know, when you come back to your true home, I will be gracious enough to forgive you. Go. Now.” She waved her hand in a dismissal that would brook no argument. 

 
You turned and left quickly, not looking back at Daniela who looked almost as upset as you felt. You didn’t say anything to Bela, who must have been waiting outside the door, but you heard her whisper, “be safe, sister.” 

 
Thankfully the carriage wasn’t put away when you left and were able to jump in and be on your way without too much trouble. When the carriage pulled to a stop on the outskirts of the village, you exited and stood there for a moment, gathering courage. Once you felt brave enough to face what lay ahead, you started down the muddy road, letting your feet guide you. The road was long and winding. As you walked, houses become scarcer. Buildings gave leeway to open fields…and up ahead, a run-down farm sat on a small hilltop. Even from this distance, you could tell that the house was in shambles. The field was filled with rotting crops. Part of the roof of the barn had caved in. 

 
This is where your wandering feet had led you. A part of your courage slipped away. 
As you approached the entrance to the farm, you noticed a signpost covered with dirt. Brushing it off, you could see ‘The Moore's’ carved into it. You walked through the gate. 

 
Not immediately going up to the house, you walked through the fields. The plants looked black and oily; the smell of rot clung heavily in the air. The crops were clearly not taken well care of. You remember digging in the dirt, trying to keep the plants alive. It was a futile endeavour in the cold. Your hands ached; fingers stiff from the chill. You tried and tried but the plants kept dying. You didn’t want to face his wrath with your failure. 

   

You left the fields and started for the barn.  

   

The barn looked even worse up close. It was on its last legs. Opening the door and slipping inside, you walked further into the building. The draft did little to hide the smell of animals and shit. Chickens scampered away from you. Emaciated goats bleated in fear as you passed them, trapped in their stalls. You stopped by the next stall and peered over the gate, breath hitching at what you saw. A cow laid out 
on its side – long dead. Bones had revealed themselves where the skin had rotted away. Its belly was hollowed out. You remembered her. You spent countless hours trying to milk her, but milk rarely came, she never had enough to eat to keep it up. But she was your friend. Your only friend. The only one who was ever there for you in your troubled times. 

 
You turned sharply away, eyes stinging, throat tightening up. You continued on to the back of the barn. 

   

In the very last stall, the gate broken and hanging on a single hinge, was a mound of mouldy hay. A tarp laid in a heap beside it. Whenever he had locked you out, you slept here, using the tarp as a means to keep warm. As little it did, you were grateful for it.  

 
Looking at the walls of the stall, you saw old paintings, faded but still visible. Flowers and trees, suns and moons and stars. Butterflies and birds. Crude figures of wolves standing on their hind legs. You remembered grinding up flowers and clay to make up the different colours. Running a finger over a rose, it flaked, staining the tip red. You remembered how much you enjoyed painting these. It was an escape from reality. Brushing your fingers clean, you left the barn and stalked your way to the house. 

 
The wood creaked as you stepped up the stairs and onto the porch. Alcohol bottles littered the area, some smashed to bits. Kicking one to the side, you made your way to the front door and peered through the window to look inside. From what you could see, the inside looked just as bad. More bottles and trash on the floors. Dirty dishes lay on every surface. The walls had yellowed with age and in some places, the wallpaper was ripped off. 

   

Truly disgusting.  

 
Testing the door handle, you discovered that it was unlocked. You pushed your way inside. The air inside smelled of rotten food and dust. Wrinkling your nose, you couldn’t help but think how Mother would never let her home reach such a state. You didn’t want to touch anything in this place. 

   

The living room was dark save by a few candles that were lit, but your eyes could make out every detail. Even more trash was piled in the corners and laundry that looked like it hadn't been washed in years tossed on the couch. That was ripped and looked grim, too. Everything in this house needed to be burned for it to be fully cleansed of all the filth that had accumulated in your absence. 

 
Memories of cleaning and picking up after this place came flooding in. You were the only one expected to pick up after everyone. You would stay up late in the night making sure everything was in order to avoid punishment, and it was still never good enough. 

 
You didn't get the chance to explore more, as the sounds of shouting and crying could be heard outside. Hissing, you stepped into the shadows, concealing yourself as best you could. 
The door burst open and the man and woman from your nightmares rushed in. 

 
“They’ve taken her! Marcus, they’ve taken her to the castle!” The woman was crying and repeating, ‘they’ve taken her’ over and over. 

 
“Shut up, woman! I know!” The man, Marcus snapped. “I’m going to gather some men, and we will force that bitch to give Aria back, we’ll raze that castle to the ground if we have to!” 

 
“Marcus...” The woman moaned, fresh tears streaming down her face. 

   

“I said shut up! That creature who lives in the castle has slighted me for the last time! Making me pay tribute, stopping Harper’s payments from coming in! And now she has taken my daughter?! I will not stand for this any longer!” 

 
Your lips curled to bare your teeth; despite what had transpired between you and Mother, you wouldn’t let anyone get near her. Forcing yourself to sound calm and in control, you said in your quiet voice, “it’s pointless, you know. You’ll never get close to Mother. You’ll die before you could even raise a hand against her.” 

 
Both quickly turned around and stared into the darkness, eyes wide in terror and anger. 

 
“It would be amusing to watch you try though, so maybe you should?” Stepping out of the shadows, you lowered your hood to show your face to them. The expression on your face revealed nothing of your true emotions. 

 
The humans' own expressions morphed between shock and fear, to anger and hatred. They had clearly recognized you. 

 
“You!” Your father snarled. He stepped forward with a raised hand, ready to strike. You moved without thinking. Everything had become blurred but when you blinked to clear your vision, your father was on the ground screaming in pain while holding his hand. You had cut deep, the bones in his hand could be seen where the flesh had been ripped away. In your hand, your sickle was dripping with blood. 

 
“Try that again,” you snarled, “and your life will be forfeit. How dare you raise a hand against a member of House Dimitrescu!” 

 
Your “mother” was screaming like a banshee as she threw herself over her husband, trying to pull him back away from you. The sounds she made were becoming annoying. 

 
“Oh, do shut up, will you?” You snapped. 

 
It took her longer than you’d like for her to quieted down, but she had managed to get Marcus back on his feet. Both stared at you with renewed fear. Marcus was still clutching his bleeding hand close to his chest. You felt satisfaction at seeing him wounded and afraid. 

 
“Why are you looking at me like that? Aren’t you glad to see me after all this time? It’s been so long. I would have thought our reunion would have been a joyous occasion.” You sneered at them. “After all, your daughter has finally returned to pay you a visit!” 

 
“You – you weren’t supposed to return…what are you doing out of that castle?” Your “mother” asked. “How are you even alive? We thought you were dead when your pay checks stopped coming in…” 

 
You laughed, full of resentment. “Yes. My dear sister told me all about that…” 

 
“Aria? Did you have something to do with her disappearance? What have you done? Where is she?!” Marcus yelled as he took a step forward. 

 
You flashed your weapon again and grinned when he stepped back, clutching his bleeding hand even tighter. “Yeah. I’ve seen her. She was in quite a state when I left her. Not to mention that Cassandra stayed behind after I was gone. Who knows what she could have done to her afterwards.” You mocked. You felt pleasure at seeing their faces pale. They knew the stories about Cassandra. The most ruthless of the daughters of Lady Dimitrescu. 

 
You held out your arms out wide, in an almost inviting gesture. “There is no need to look so scared. She will have the best of House Dimitrescu hospitality! I mean, you thought it was good enough for me.” 

 
“She was never supposed to go there!” Marcus snapped. “While it may have been good enough for you, she is far better than that!” 

 
“Good enough for me?” Your arms fell back to your sides as you stared at them through heavy lidded eyes. “You know... it turned out that you were right. It was good enough for me. Well... not so much for Harper. She didn’t quite belong. But it was perfect enough for Eliza.” 

 
“E-Eliza?” Your “mother” asked in a hushed whisper, still clutching onto Marcus’s arm for dear life. 

 
“Yes. I guess mother didn’t like the name Harper. I was renamed even before waking up.” You answered nonchalantly. 

 
“Your…Mother? That creature who runs the castle is…your mother?” Your human “mother” asked, fear giving way to confusion. 

 
A low growl rumbled deep in your chest when she insulted Mother. She shrank back, edging closer to her husband. 

   

“My mother is ten times the woman you’ll ever be! She’s cruel and horrible but never towards us! Never towards me. She would never allow some filthy man-thing to raise a hand at us. Unlike you. You who would allow this pitiful excuse of a man to abuse me every day. He would beat me every chance he got! You sold me off! Sold me to pay off your debts.” Any pretence of being calm was over with. You were done pretending. “You were my mother, but you allowed all of it to happen! I remember everything now. What could I have possibly done to deserve any of it?” 

 
“You never should have been born!” Marcus exploded. “From the very beginning, you were a burden! Taking our resources when Aria needed them more!! She was the only one who had worth to the family. And the family she married into raised our own family’s standing while you couldn’t even get an arranged marriage to the butcher’s son! You were just a useless bitch! A waste of space!” He stomped his foot like a petulant child as he carried on. “I will not stand for this! How dare you raise your weapon against me! How dare you hand Aria off to those monsters! I’ll get my daughter back whether you or your mother likes it or not! Then I’ll deal with your betrayal.” 

 
“Oh? You wish to see Mother that badly?” You snarled. Your flies materialized, growing in number and buzzing angrily. “Then how about I take you to her.” Your swarm burst forth and engulfed the humans. 

 
Their cadence drowned out the horrified screams. 

 
Alcina stood out on her balcony. Her white dress glowing in the moonlight. Her foot tapped as she took another drag of her fifth cigarette. Eliza should have been back by now. Had she been wrong in sending off her youngest child? Had she been wrong about her daughter’s loyalty and love for her? No. She would return. She was sure of it. Alcina was never wrong. Eliza would come back to her with open arms, and all 
would be right in the world again. She just needed to have patience. 

 
Her other daughters stood just inside the doorway, each waiting for their youngest sibling to come back to them. She had shot down their offers to go retrieve you, telling them that you needed to learn your place within the folds of their household. 
 
 

“ Mother...” A low whine sounded behind her.  

 
“Enough, Daniela. That is enough.” Alcina replied harshly. 

 
“But mother... what if she-” Bela started, but a raised hand demanding silence stopped her. 

 
“She will come home. Girls, you need to be patient with her.” 

 
Easier said than done, when Alcina could feel hers waning. 

 
They stood there for what seemed like hours. Watched as the sun gave way to the moon and as stars started to shine. They waited. 

 
The moon had risen higher before any signs of change appeared. Screaming and yelling sounded off in the distance. Her daughters approached the handrails and peered over; eyes bright. They all watched eagerly. 

 
It took several moments before they could see movement through the trees. Two people were being pushed, dragged and carried towards the castle. They kicked and punched the air in vain. They were hard to make out through the black mist that surrounded them. 

 
Black mist? Alcina thought in confusion. 

 
Daniela gasped and pointed down at them. “It’s a swarm of flies! She’s swarming!” The pride and joy in her voice was infectious. All of them were beaming with joy as they watched you drag the humans within your swarm. You definitely weren’t as coordinated as your sisters, but for your first time, you were doing quite well. Well…doing good enough, that is. Alcina watched as the man-thing lashed out a kick at 
the largest mass of flies and you stumbled out into existence. Spitting out curses, your face full of rage, you leapt back at him, your flies converging on him. 

 
As your focus shifted solely on the man-thing, the woman took her chance to get up and run, not once looking back at the chaos behind her. 

 
Alcina clicked her tongue. What a foolish woman. “Girls? Would you all be a dear and help your sister out? She’s a tad bit distracted right now.” 

 
Her girls gleefully leapt over the edge and swarmed down into the fray. Cassandra and Daniela went after the woman and seized her before she even made it out of the gate. Bela helped you subdue the man and you both held him down, brandishing your weapons. Alcina watched as you gestured wildly with your free hand, pointing at each human with disgust. She couldn’t hear what you were saying with all the racket going on. Then each grabbed their prisoners and dragged them into the castle. Alcina flicked her cigarette away and turned to stoop inside. 

   

She had guests to greet.  

   

With Bela’s help, bringing Marcus into the castle was easy. You ignored his empty threats and futile attempts to break free as you both dragged him inside and held him by the staircase. Cassandra and Daniela followed soon after. The woman was crying even louder as the doors shut behind them. 

 
You knew Mother would soon join you. You saw her up on her balcony. She would know what to do next. At the thought of Mother, your anxiety grew. She said she would welcome you back…but what if that was a lie to? She lied and kept things from you. She was so angry. What if her punishment was to banish you? What would you do then? There was nowhere else to go back to. No family or friends would take you in as you were. 

 
Just as you expected, the tell tale sounds of heavy heels clicking on the floor that signified Mother’s arrival echoed, and she made her appearance. As always, you were awed by her. Her beauty, her grand height. The way she seemed to float along as she moved. She descended down the stairs, her hand trailing gracefully down the handrails. Her molten gaze never left yours, a soft smile on her lips. 

 
Heat flooded your cheeks, and you looked down in shame and embarrassment. 

 
“Darling girl, I’m so happy to have you back home. Although a bit later than I expected.” 

 
“I’m sorry mother. I had a bit of trouble on the way back.” You mumbled in reply, eyes still downcast. 

 
“So I see. What is it that you’ve brought to me?” 

   

You swallowed before answering, “I’ve brought you a gift.” 

 
The matriarch hummed before turning to look at the humans, who had both gone silent and still as soon as she appeared. “Is this them?” Your nod was all she needed. 
“Good. I’m always pleased to entertain guests.” She stopped right in front of them. Her soft smile morphed into something more sinister. “Well now, you must be Mr. Moore. It’s such a pleasure to finally meet you. I must thank you for sending Eliza to us. She has become such a beloved member of our little family.” Her voice was sickly sweet. 

 
“We didn’t send her here to be a part of your family! We sent her here to work! You owe me money for all those months of no payment!” Marcus snapped. “You will give me what is owed, and you will hand over Aria back to me now!” 

 
His bravado was admirable, especially concerning that he was outnumbered, outclassed, and maimed. 

 
Apparently, Mother thought as much too. 

   

“You’re a very bold man. But it will do nothing to save you from your predicament. This is my house. You don’t get to make demands of me.” She dropped the farce, letting them see a glimpse of her terrible anger. “You’ve caused quite a stir with my youngest. Questioning me. Ignoring everything I told her about you. Needing to find out who Harper was.” She turned her head to face you. The shadows hid her expression save for the glow of her eyes. “Well, Eliza? Have you found out everything you needed to? Was it worth it?” 

Hanging your head in shame, you answered. “Yes. I remember most of everything. It wasn’t worth it, mother…I’m sorry.”  

 
Mother turned back to Marcus. “You’ve mistreated my daughter. Sending her to work off your debts? Making her pay for your mistakes? How could any true parent treat their children in such a manner?” 

 
“Harper is my daughter! I can do with her as I please.” 

 
Mother laughed and shook her head. “She wasn’t yours the moment you sent her to me. She became mine and I have chosen to accept her as my own.” She straightened as she adjusted her hat. “For your past transgressions towards my family, you will remain here. You will never see the light of day again. I should have done something about you sooner and that was my mistake. I’ll soon rectify that.” 

 
She made a motion with her hands, and you all knew what she wanted. Cassandra and Daniela took hold of the woman, oblivious to the fact that she started kicking and screaming again. Bela seized Marcus and you moved to help her, but a large hand blocked you. 

 
Swallowing, you looked up at Mother. She had a slight frown on her face. “Not you, darling girl.” 

 
You weren’t ready to be alone with her yet, but you dared not disobey. You took a step back and watched your sisters drag them away. Even Marcus looked scared as he was dragged out through a set of doors. Their screaming and yelling muffled as the doors shut. 

 
Mother stared at you, that frown never leaving her face. Her stance was rigid. You could practically see the barriers surrounding her. The two of you watched each other, not saying anything at first. Minutes passed before Mother broke the silence. 

 
“Are you alright?” You nodded. Her frown deepened, eyes narrowing slightly. “What did you learn?” 

 
You didn’t want to answer, but you did anyway. You told her everything. What you saw, how you felt. All the memories. You didn’t spare any details. By the time you finished, her eyes had turned to slits. 

 
“Do you see now? What I tried to protect you from?” 

 
“I…I just wanted to learn…to know why I wasn’t good enough.” 

   

“Wasn’t it enough for you to know that you were good enough for me? Why did you have to go out and torture yourself with the truth?” Mother asked coldly. You had no answer to give. You shrugged one shoulder as you looked away to avoid her gaze. 
She sighed, still sounding very disappointed. She rested a large hand on your shoulder and gave it a slight squeeze. “Go, rest. You must be tired.” She let go and turned to leave. 

   

You watched her go, hoping that she would turn around. She never looked back. As soon as the door shut behind her, you made your way upstairs to your room. 
Resting on the couch, you watched the flames in the fireplace. It's warm glow, the only light source in your room. Going to bed was pointless. You were far too awake to sleep. 

 
A loud knock startled you out of your thoughts and the door opened. Bela stepped through carrying a tray. It held a cup of wine and a plate full of raw meat sprinkled with herbs and spices. 

   

Was it from your human family? If so, you didn’t want it.  

 
As if reading your thoughts, Bela said “it’s not from them if that’s what you’re worried about.” She sat with grace and poise next to you, tray resting on her lap. She handed you the cup which you gratefully accepted and took a large gulp from. “Do you wish to talk about it?” She asked softly. 

 
“Not really.” 

 
“Hmm. Too bad.” She giggled quietly then grew serious again. 

 
“I know what you’re going through. I went through the same thing, you know. My first family didn’t want me either. When mother told me, it was very difficult for me to accept it. I couldn’t believe that they just gave me up. I had to find out why.” 

 
You watched her with wide eyes. “Did you?” 

 
She nodded and sighed. “Yes. And it didn’t end well.” She did not explain further, and you decided that you weren’t going to press the issue. “Cassandra and Daniela are lucky. They never cared to explore further into their pasts. Never felt the 
need to.” 

 
You turned back to the fire, feeling slightly envious. “Lucky them,” you agreed. 

 
“You know mother loves you, right? She wouldn’t have tried to keep things from you if she didn’t.” 

 
You looked back at Bela, waiting for her to continue. 

   

“She’s harsh and demanding with all of us. You know that tough love sort of thing. But she chose us. I think a chosen family is better than any other.” 

 
You nodded. That was a good point. The Dimitrescus were better than the Moore's, certainly. Mother never demanded the impossible from any of her children. She always strove to make you all your best possible selves, always cared for and protected you to the best of her abilities. Your eyes misted. Had you taken her for granted? Perhaps it was selfish of you to want to meet your old family. Especially after everything she’d done for you. You owed her an apology. 

 
Bela tutted. “None of that. You’re here now. That’s what really matters.” She lifted and placed the tray on your lap. “Eat. You’ll feel better after.” 

 
You sniffed as you picked up the meat with your bare hands and began to eat. 

 
“Don’t tell mother I didn’t use a fork.” You sniffed again. 

 
Bela chuckled. “Wouldn’t dream of it.” 

 
As soon as you were finished, Bela took the tray and said her farewell. Waving her goodbye, you settled yourself deeper into the couch. How would you even begin with mother? A simple apology didn’t seem quite enough. You hoped that 
bringing in your human family helped ease her, but perhaps something more might bring you back into her good grace. 

 
Eyeing the easel that was tucked away in the corner, a tarp hid the nearly complete painting. You had planned on gifting it to Mother anyway, why not finish it now? 
Easing yourself to your feet and padding towards the painting, you tore off the tarp and gave it a critical eye. Blues, greys and greens decorated the piece. You just needed to add a few more details. 

 
Dipping the brush into a yellow jar, you began your work. 

 
It took you far longer to finish than you expected but it was finally done. Pleased with the work done, you scooted the piece near the fire to help it dry quicker. 
With that done, you washed up and dress for bed. Despite the exhaustion, there was no sleep that night. As soon as the sun started peeking through the curtains, you dragged yourself out of bed and checked on the painting. The fire helped it dry, and it was time to varnish it. Once that was done and set to dry once more, you showered then cleaned and dusted around the room. 

 
You’ve never allowed the maids to set foot in your room ever since Lex’s attack. 
As you cleaned, you kept running through all the scenarios that could happen when you met up with Mother. What would you even say? How would you begin? 

 
After cleaning the same surfaces three times in a row, you knew you were stalling. You’d yet to even begin forming a plan when you heard the door open and close behind you. Figuring it was one of your sisters, you waved a hand and told them to make themselves comfortable. 

 
“One moment, I’m almost finished here.” 

 
“That table looks impeccably clean already, dear.” 

 
You dropped the rag as you whipped around to find that Mother was standing behind you. She looked much calmer than the night before. 

 
“Mother! I am sorry, I didn’t know you were coming here. I was just finishing cleaning up.” 

   

She nodded in understanding as she watched you fidget. 

 
You both stood there in silence for what seemed like hours. Unable to stand it for a moment longer, you blurted out, “I made you something!” 

 
“Oh?” 

 
You jerked your head to the finished painting. Mother hummed as she glided over to the gift. 

 
“You painted a picture of the castle?” She sounded slightly pleased, so you hurried to explain. 

 
“I painted home…” 

 
The castle was painted among a sea of trees and blue skies. The vineyard and gardens full of colour. The mountains free of snow and ice. The village painted near the bottom was dwarfed by everything else. She turned to give you a soft smile before turning back. 

 
“You painted it in spring I see.” 

 
“What I thought it would look like in spring anyway. My sisters always spoke of what spring was like. Yesterday was such a mess, I never got to fully appreciate the view of the castle from outside.” 

 
She grunted. “Yes. Yesterday was truly a mess.” 

 
Oh no. She sounded upset again. She turned to you again with a frown now firmly on her lips. 

 
Gazing at the floor and lacing your fingers together, it was now or never. 

 
“I-I’m really sorry, mother…you were right." You felt tears welling up, and you tried to blink them away. 

 
Mother just stood there, waiting patiently, her frown easing. 

 
“You were right. It was pointless going back to that disgusting place.” You sniffed as a tear escaped and you wiped it away furiously. “Bela told me a little of her past…” 

 
Mother sighed, cutting you off before you started rambling. She held out her arms, beckoning you to her. You surged forward and hugged her waist, burrowing your face in her dress as the tears started to flow freely. 

 
“Forgive me! Forgive me for wanting to go back. I don’t know why I wanted to go. It was so foolish!” 

 
Her large hands wrapped around you as she shushed you. “There, there. That’s enough. You’re all right.” She moved her hand and started to wipe away the tears with the pad of her thumb. “Take a moment and compose yourself.” 

 
It took you several minutes, but you finally calmed down enough to see straight. 

 
“Perhaps... I was a little too harsh in my reaction.” Mother started. She sighed again before continuing. “I should have realized that you knew something all this time. You haven’t been the same since Lex. I should have known that you would have been curious about your history.” 

   

You shook your head. “No. You have given me everything. I should have been content with my life here. I should have never gone back.” 

   

She sighed again as she rubbed your back. “I never wanted you to find out. I knew that the truth would hurt you. Just know that your family here loves you more than you could ever imagine.” 

 
“I love you, mother…I won’t ever go against your wishes again. I promise.” You whispered. 

 
“Everything I do, I do for my children.” She spoke, though it sounded like it was more for herself than for you. She hugged you tighter before releasing you. “I have a few things to take care of. Later, would you like to join me in visiting your human family?” 

 
“No thank you. I think I’m done with them. I don’t really care what happens to them now.” 

   

Mother smiled that wonderful, glorious smile of hers again and your heart felt at ease. Things would go back to the way they should be now. “Then I’ll take my leave. You should rest. I can tell you haven’t had a restful night.” She moved towards 
the painting and picked it up gently. “Thank you for this beautiful gift.” Then she turned to leave. 

 
As soon as the door closed behind her, you flopped on the bed, feet dangling over the edge and quickly fell asleep. When you awoke later in the day, you felt more rested than you had ever felt before. 

 

 
Alcina Dimitrescu walked slowly through her hallways, her heels clicking with each step. Her business, while taking precedence over everything else, was finally over and done with. She was looking forward to what would happen next. 

 
She should have done something about the vermin that was currently held in the basement. That mistake would soon be corrected. 

 
Her youngest had rejected her offer to join her down in the basement, but that was fine by her. It just meant that she had them all to herself. She quickened her pace. 
With her long strides, she made it to the basement door and unlocked it with her key. As soon as the door was open, low moans of pain echoed from down below. 
Descending the stairs leisurely, Alcina relished the sounds of pained moans morphing into panicked cries 

 
She wondered if their blood would taste sweet on her tongue. 

 
The stairs bottomed out into a large, dark and dank room, cells and chains on both sides. Extravagant torture devices strategically placed in various parts of the room. 
Marcus and his wife were chained up on the walls. The hooks protruding out of their hands kept their arms spread wide and their feet dangling off the floor. Their precious daughter was strapped to a table. Each looked far worse off than when they had arrived. The parents had cuts and fresh bruises. The father's nose looked like it had been broken. Blood was streaming down. The mother’s left eye 
was swollen shut. Her lips parted as she cried, shattered teeth bleeding at the gums. A few fingers were missing on her right hand. Their daughter laid out on the table was groaning. Her jaw must have been broken as it hung open limply and to the side. Her eyes were glazed and unseeing. 

   

“My apologies. I must have forgotten to inform my girls to go easy on you.” Alcina chuckled in a conspiratorial manner. “You know how children are. Always getting carried away when they are having fun.” 

 
“Please... please let us go...” The mother wept. 

 
“Hmm. I don’t believe I have learned your name?” 

 
“M-Meredith. Please. We will do whatever you want. Just let us go.” 

 
“Ah. Meredith. I regretfully have to deny your request. I simply can’t let you go.” 

 
“You have no right keeping us here!” Marcus snapped. “If you keep us here then the entire village will rise up against you!” He was certainly a bold man. Alcina was not impressed. 

 
“I think you’ll find I have that I do in fact have the right to keep you here. You’ve insulted my house. You have harmed my daughter. I think that the village doesn’t care whether you return or not. They wouldn’t dare try to challenge me.” 

 
“You can keep Harper! Just let us go! Please!” Meredith begged. 

 
Alcina shook her head. “You can’t give me what’s already mine. I’ve let you live far longer than I should have.” 

 
The door that led upstairs opened and shut. Everyone had gone quiet as soft shuffling of footsteps descended the stairs and a young maid appeared carrying a tray of her favorite wine, stepping through the archway. She carefully set the tray down then bowed to Alcina. 

 
“Thank you, Meela. Right on time.” 

 
The maid bowed again. “Is there anything else you require?” 

 
Alcina rather liked the girl. She was pretty and she had always treated her with the utmost respect and reverence. Alcina found her professionalism endearing and she always treated her daughters with the same respect she showed her. She even dealt with Eliza’s hostility with grace. Perhaps she should invite the girl for tea later. 

   

“No. That is all. You may leave now.”  

   

Once Meela had left, Alcina grabbed the bottle and poured herself a drink. She eyed the humans as she took a sip. The fruity flavour sang on her tongue. She hummed in appreciation as she set the glass down. “She’s a lovely thing, isn’t she? Always so polite. She came to me on her own volition, you know? Unlike your Harper. Like most of the maids here, Harper didn’t have a choice. Having to work off your debts for your failures.” 

 
“It was her duty to support this family! She had to contribute somehow.” Marcus yelled. “Instead, she gets taken in by you and turned into some kind of monster. All the while she ignores her real family who relied on the money she sent! Give us what we are owed! What did you even do to her? She would have never raised a hand against me!” 

 
“Rather cruel of you to call your daughter a monster. I could never call any of my children as such.” Alcina quipped. “And you are in no position to make demands.” 

   

“She is a monster! No human could ever turn into flies like that!” 
“I made her as she should have been.” Alcina replied calmly, though her temper was bubbling. He was becoming quite vexing. 

 
“You made her into a beast! Your family is nothing but a plague upon the village. Descending on us in the night! Murdering innocent lives! The Dumitrescu's should have been culled long ago and your wretched castle burned to the ground! The Dumitrescu's are nothing but a corruption.” 
A plague? Nothing but corruption? Had he no idea what the Dumitrescu's had done for that miserable, misbegotten village? If it wasn’t for her and her powerful influence, the village would have withered away. Forgotten to time itself. Nothing but ruins. 

   

Alcina was used to being called a monster. That never fazed her. But a plague? The familiar feeling of rage burned in her chest. How dare he! 

   

She stood up slowly, eyes never leaving his. “I’m a plague? A corruption? Something to be culled?” She spoke slowly and carefully. “If it wasn’t for me, you would never have been able to live in that village. If it wasn’t for me, the true monsters of the night would have wiped you out of existence long ago. And for everything I have done to ensure its protection, you see me as corruption?” She hissed. “Then if I’m a plague, allow me to cleanse your souls from my corruption.” 

 
She slowly made her way to the girl strapped to the table. Her gaze still locked onto his, she flicked her hand and her claws shot out. She held them up for a moment, relishing how they glinted in the light before swinging them down, spearing the girl. Her claws tore through the girl and pierced through the table. The girl gasped and coughed as blood welled up from her wounds and filled her lungs. Blood spurted 
from her mouth. Her body spasmed before slumping back into the table, silent and still. 

 
The mother wailed, loud and broken and full of pain. Marcus was shouting threats. Face red with anger, he kept spouting about how he would have his revenge and other nonsense. He was so tiresome. Yanking her hand free from the corpse, Alcina swung again, this time cutting Meredith to ribbons. Her obnoxious screaming cut off to blissful silence. Her body fell to the ground in pieces. Alcina glared down at her. She hated weak willed women. 

 
She turned her attention back to the arrogant being. His defiant yelling and curses morphing into begging and pleading with his wife’s and daughters’ deaths. He finally looked at her with fear. 

   

Good .  

   

He finally understood his situation. 
 
 

“ P-please!” He gasped.  

 
“Now do you finally understand? Finally understand what it means to insult my house?” Alcina chuckled, the vibrations deep in her chest. She slowly, ever so slowly walked towards him. Her claws now stained red. She flexed them, enjoying his 
newfound suffering as he watched them in terror. “I won’t lie, this won’t be fast or as painless as your family’s death were.” She savoured his fear. Revelled in it. She pressed a single claw at his stomach and felt it shaking. Nothing thrilled her more than this. “Did you know, that a fresh belly lets out steam like a hot tea kettle?” 

   

It was the morning after when Alcina left the basement. She found the nearest maid and ordered her to dispose of the remains that resided down there. She didn’t care how it was done but she wanted every trace removed from her castle. 

 
Speaking of... Alcina glanced down at herself. Blood stained her usually pristine dress. She grimaced at her current state. She let her temper get the best of her and now one of her favourite dresses was ruined. 

 
It would have to be burned. 

 
Once she had refreshed herself and her ruined clothes were tossed to the side for a maid to collect later, she left for her study. After dealing with those mongrels, the weight on her shoulders eased. She wouldn’t have to worry about her youngest feeling conflicted ever again. She had been reaffirmed of her place in her family. 

 
Everything was falling back into place. 

 
As she neared her study, Alcina could hear the voices of her daughters in the room adjacent to the study. She didn’t make her presence known as she stooped to peek inside. 

 
Her daughters were sitting at the table, steaming cups of tea sat in front of them as they chatted and laughed. They all seemed so excited and proud that their youngest sister had finally learned how to use her flies. Cassandra was explaining to her little Eliza how to use them to their fullest extent. The youngest seemed 
to be hanging on every word as she sipped her tea, occasionally laughing with the other two sisters. She looked so calm and happy. Her burden finally eased her shoulders as well. 

 
Alcina smiled as she pulled back. Yes. This was how things should be. How they would always be from now on. She decided then and there to take on an even greater role in her daughters’ lives. Never again would she allow such pain and confusion torment them. 

 
Without disturbing their conversation, she locked herself in her study, ready to start the day's work. 

 

Notes:

I still have an idea for one final chapter. i been thinking about it for a long time and it sounds fun to try out. if i find the time, maybe i will be able to post it here someday. till then, thank you all for everything. take care

Notes:

Thanks to shittyname123 I would not have the courage to post this. thank you! you been a good friend